A proliferation of lawsuits involving sport utility vehicles, defective tires, medical devices and drugs, and asbestos abounds. Public attention to products liability cases is at an all-time high, and awards routinely run into the millions of dollars. When developing a strategy in this high stakes world, attorneys can't afford to have anything other than the best information and insight into this evolving area of law. Lawyers need practical tools to assess a products liability case's potential and build their approach, and Shapo on the Law of Products Liability provides the tools to give you the winning edge. Through a holistic analysis of the law and its principal developments as witnessed in hundreds of cases, this treatise gives litigators a wide variety of perspectives on potential strategies, and the tools to support those strategies with persuasive arguments. This authoritative two-volume work will enable you to: Assess products liability case potential and build sound litigation strategies Dig deep into products liability law to build creative approaches to litigation Craft a winning case and reap the greatest reward for your clients Find the tools and information to support strategies with persuasive arguments Both federal and state courts contribute a rich mix of decisions to products liability law, which covers both consumer products and occupational hazards. This indispensable resource for the products liability practitioner helps you prepare your case. Is the product defective? Who is liable? What is the manufacturer's responsibility? Who can be sued? What kind of awards may be realized? How might this be defended? Shapo on the Law of Products Liability also includes coverage of: Asbestos litigation Chinese drywall Food and drug Medical devices Design/manufacturing defects claims Punitive damages Discovery rule Up to date analysis and commentary History and background on products liability law Damages Advertising material Packaging Marshall S. Shapo, the Frederic P. Vose Professor at Northwestern University School of Law, is a nationally recognized authority on torts and products liability law.

An authoritative, in-depth study of issues in products liability litigation, this comprehensive treatise traces the law of products liability from its roots in contract and tort to its development into the challenging, complex modern law of the subject. Practically organized and clearly written, the treatise provides detailed descriptions of case law governing: what constitutes a product; a general definition of products, followed by an in-depth examination of various types of product defects; firms in the chain of distribution that can be liable for a product defect; who in the consumer chain can make a claim for damages; defenses involving consumer conduct; general principles of proof and causation applicable to this area of law; punitive damages; the procedural and remedial concepts that surround the substantive law. Trial lawyers in products liability cases, corporate counsel for firms that manufacture or sell products, and casualty insurance firms will find this treatise a crucial resource in formulating litigation strategies. Its clear and fact-based approach makes it a valuable addition to court libraries, law school libraries, and courses in torts and products liability.--

Author Marshall S. Shapo presents the argument that the body of law Americans have developed concerning responsibility for injuries and prevention of injuries has some of the qualities of a constitution--a fundamental set of principles that govern relations among people and between people and corporate and governmental institutions. This 'injury law constitution' includes tort law, legislative compensation systems like workers compensation, and the many statutes that regulate the safety of risky activities and of products ranging from drugs and medical devices to automobiles and cigarettes. An Injury Law Constitution presents a novel thesis that embraces leading features of the American law of injuries. Professor Shapo's analysis, into which he weaves the history of these varied systems of law, links them to the unique compensation plan devised for the victims of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. Professor Shapo examines how our injury law reflects deeply held views in American society on risk and injury, indicating how the injury law constitution serves as a guide to the question of what it means to be an American. Refusing to accept easy academic formulas, An Injury Law Constitution captures the reality of how people respond to injury risks in functional contexts involving diverse activities and products.

Initiated by the European Commission, the first study published in this volume analyses the largely unresolved question as to how damage caused by artificial intelligence (AI) systems is allocated by the rules of tortious liability currently in force in the Member States of the European Union and in the United States, to examine whether - and if so, to what extent - national tort law regimes differ in that respect, and to identify possible gaps in the protection of injured parties. The second study offers guiding principles for safety and liability with regard to software, testing how the existing acquis needs to be adjusted in order to adequately cope with the risks posed by software and AI. The annex contains the final report of the New Technologies Formation of the Expert Group on Liability and New Technologies, assessing the extent to which existing liability schemes are adapted to the emerging market realities following the development of new digital technologies.