A Teaching Note on Strict Liability in Tort

Abstract

Before the Greenman decision in 1963, a plaintiff in a products liability case had to rely on the theories of negligence, breach of warranty, or misrepresentation or fraud for recovery. These theories were not specific to products cases and presented plaintiffs with certain formidable "obstacles." Because of the many issues raised in applying these theories, courts began to search for a more rational theory for determining liability which would move away from judging the conduct of an actor and instead would focus on the product itself. In Part 6 of the Series on Teaching Notes, the authors focus on the theory of strict liability in tort as the now preferred method of compensating parties for injuries caused by a defective product.