Maryland Product Liability Law
Second Edition
Table of Contents
Part I: The Legal Ground
Rules
Chapter One
Strict
Liability in Tort: The Dominant Theory
I.
[§ 1.1]
MARYLAND
LAW: THE ELEMENTS OF STRICT
LIABILITY ................................................................................... 3
A.
[§ 1.2]
The
Sale of a Product......................................................................
4
B.
[§ 1.3]
In
a Defective Condition..................................................................
6
1.
[§ 1.4]
Manufacture
............................................................................. 7
2.
[§ 1.5]
Design
...................................................................................... 7
a.
[§ 1.6] Consumer expectations test................................................................... 10
b.
[§ 1.7] Risk/utility
test........................................................................... 13
3.
[§ 1.8]
Warnings
................................................................................ 15
C.
[§ 1.9]
Which
is Unreasonably Dangerous.................................................
16
D.
[§ 1.10]
When
It Leaves the Hands of the Defendant...................................
18
E.
[§ 1.11]
Which
is the Proximate Cause........................................................
19
F.
[§ 1.12]
Of
the Plaintiff’s Injury...................................................................
20
II.
[§ 1.13]
STRICT
LIABILITY FOR MISREPRESENTATION .............. 21
III.
[§ 1.14]
STRICT
LIABILITY FOR NON-DEFECTIVE
PRODUCTS ................................................................................ 22
IV.
[§ 1.15]
RESTATEMENT
(THIRD) OF TORTS: PRODUCTS
LIABILITY ................................................................................. 22
A.
[§ 1.16]
The
Sale of a Product....................................................................
24
B.
[§ 1.17]
Product
Defect..............................................................................
25
C.
[§ 1.18]
Post-Sale
Duty to Warn.................................................................
26
D.
[§ 1.19]
The
Plaintiff’s Injury.......................................................................
26
E.
[§ 1.20]
Misrepresentation..........................................................................
26
Chapter Two
Other
Theories of Liability
I.
[§ 2.1]
NEGLIGENCE
............................................................................ 29
A.
[§ 2.2]
Duty..............................................................................................
29
B.
[§ 2.3]
The
Latent-Patent Distinction.........................................................
33
C.
[§ 2.4]
Res
Ipsa Loquitur..........................................................................
34
II.
[§ 2.5]
WARRANTIES
........................................................................... 37
A.
[§ 2.6]
Sales
v. Service.............................................................................
39
1.
[§ 2.7]
Maryland
law ......................................................................... 39
2.
[§ 2.8]
Express
warranty .................................................................... 44
B.
[§ 2.9]
Implied
Warranty of Merchantability..............................................
46
1.
[§ 2.10]
Merchant
of goods ................................................................. 46
2.
[§ 2.11]
Merchantable
at time of sale ................................................... 47
3.
[§ 2.12]
Injury
..................................................................................... 48
4.
[§ 2.13]
Proximate
cause ..................................................................... 48
5.
[§ 2.14]
Notice
to seller ....................................................................... 49
C.
[§ 2.15]
Implied
Warranty of Fitness for a Particular Purpose......................
49
III.
[§ 2.16]
FAILURE
TO WARN ................................................................. 52
A.
[§ 2.17]
Strict
Liability................................................................................
55
1.
[§ 2.18]
Causation
............................................................................... 56
2.
[§ 2.19]
Latent-patent
distinction .......................................................... 57
3.
[§ 2.20]
Knowledge
of the defendant ................................................... 58
4.
[§ 2.21]
Comparison
with negligence .................................................... 60
B.
[§ 2.22]
Negligence....................................................................................
62
1.
[§ 2.23]
Supplier’s
knowledge of danger .............................................. 63
2.
[§ 2.24]
Latent
danger ......................................................................... 64
3.
[§ 2.25]
Reasonable
care ..................................................................... 64
4.
[§ 2.26]
Causation
............................................................................... 66
C.
[§ 2.27]
Warranties.....................................................................................
66
D.
Special Rules..............................................................................................
68
1.
[§ 2.28]
The
learned intermediary ......................................................... 68
2.
[§ 2.29]
Bulk
supplier/sophisticated user .............................................. 69
3.
[§ 2.30]
Statutes
.................................................................................. 72
IV.
STATUTORY
CAUSES OF ACTION ................................................... 72
A.
Federal.......................................................................................................
72
1.
[§ 2.31]
Federal
Trade Commission Improvement Act
(“Magnuson‑Moss Warranty Act”) ......................................... 72
2.
[§ 2.32]
Consumer
Product Safety Act (“CPSA”) ................................ 73
B.
[§ 2.33]
Maryland.......................................................................................
75
V.
[§ 2.34]
MISREPRESENTATION
........................................................... 76
A.
[§ 2.35]
Negligent
Misrepresentation...........................................................
77
B.
[§ 2.36]
Fraud............................................................................................
78
1.
[§ 2.37]
Deceit
.................................................................................... 78
2.
[§ 2.38]
Concealment
.......................................................................... 78
VI.
NON-IDENTIFICATION
THEORIES ................................................. 79
A.
[§ 2.39]
Introduction...................................................................................
79
B.
[§ 2.40]
Maryland’s
Response....................................................................
79
VII.
[§ 2.41]
THE
ENHANCED INJURY CASE ............................................ 82
A.
[§ 2.42]
Development
of the Crashworthiness Doctrine................................
83
B.
[§ 2.43]
Scope
of Legal Duty in Maryland...................................................
84
C.
[§ 2.44]
Duty
to Bystanders........................................................................
86
D.
[§ 2.45]
The
Use of Seatbelts......................................................................
86
E.
[§ 2.46]
Unique
Proof Requirements...........................................................
88
VIII.
[§ 2.47]
CHOOSING
THE RIGHT THEORY ........................................ 92
Chapter Three
The
Plaintiffs
I.
[§ 3.1]
STRICT
LIABILITY IN TORT ................................................. 95
II.
[§ 3.2]
STRICT
LIABILITY FOR MISREPRESENTATION .............. 95
III.
[§ 3.3]
NEGLIGENCE
............................................................................ 95
IV.
[§ 3.4]
MISREPRESENTATION
........................................................... 96
V.
[§ 3.5]
WARRANTY
............................................................................... 96
VI.
STATUTORY
CAUSES OF ACTION ................................................... 97
A.
[§ 3.6]
Magnuson-Moss
Warranty Act......................................................
97
B.
[§ 3.7]
Consumer
Product Safety Act (CPSA)..........................................
98
C.
[§ 3.8]
Maryland
Consumer Protection Act (MCPA)................................
98
D.
[§ 3.9]
Maryland
Consumer Product Guaranty Act (MCPGA)..................
98
Chapter Four
The
Defendants
I.
[§ 4.1]
MANUFACTURER
.................................................................. 101
II.
[§ 4.2]
COMPONENT
MANUFACTURER ........................................ 102
III.
[§ 4.3]
SELLER
OF USED PRODUCTS ............................................. 103
IV.
[§ 4.4]
SELLER
OF RECONDITIONED PRODUCTS ...................... 103
V.
[§ 4.5]
REPAIRERS
............................................................................. 104
VI.
[§ 4.6]
IMPORTER
.............................................................................. 104
VII.
[§ 4.7]
WHOLESALER,
DISTRIBUTORS & RETAILERS .............. 105
VIII.
[§ 4.8]
LESSORS
AND BAILORS ....................................................... 106
IX.
[§ 4.9]
LICENSOR/FRANCHISOR
..................................................... 107
X.
[§ 4.10]
PUTATIVE
OWNER ................................................................ 109
XI.
[§ 4.11]
ENDORSER
.............................................................................. 109
XII.
[§ 4.12]
COMMERCIAL
PURCHASER ............................................... 110
XIII.
[§ 4.13]
SUCCESSOR
MANUFACTURER ........................................... 111
XIV.
[§ 4.14]
THE
DUAL CAPACITY DOCTRINE ..................................... 112
Chapter Five
Universal
Elements of Proof
I.
[§ 5.1]
IDENTITY
OF SELLER OR MANUFACTURER .................. 117
II.
[§ 5.2]
TYING
DEFECT TO TIME OF SALE OR DISTRIBUTION 117
III.
EVIDENCE
OF DEFECT ..................................................................... 118
A.
[§ 5.3]
Direct
Evidence of Precise Defect Usually Required.....................
118
B.
[§ 5.4]
When
Circumstantial Evidence of Defect May Suffice...................
122
C.
[§ 5.5]
Potential
Sources of Proof of Defect............................................
123
1.
[§ 5.6]
Physical
and chemical qualities .............................................. 123
2.
[§ 5.7]
Surrounding
circumstances .................................................... 124
3.
[§ 5.8]
Standards,
regulations and statutory compliance .................... 125
4.
[§ 5.9]
Modifications
and repairs ...................................................... 126
5.
[§ 5.10]
Recall
data ........................................................................... 127
IV.
[§ 5.11]
CAUSATION
............................................................................ 127
A.
[§ 5.12]
In
Fact........................................................................................
128
B.
[§ 5.13]
In
Law........................................................................................
131
C.
[§ 5.14]
Intervening,
Superseding Cause....................................................
132
Chapter Six
Defenses
Raised on Preliminary Motion
I.
[§ 6.1]
PERSONAL
JURISDICTION .................................................. 139
A.
Constitutional Considerations....................................................................
140
1.
[§ 6.2]
Personal
jurisdiction in products liability before
World-Wide Volkswagen ..................................................... 140
2.
[§ 6.3]
World-Wide
Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson ....................... 141
3.
[§ 6.4]
General
jurisdiction v. specific jurisdiction .............................. 142
4.
[§ 6.5]
Asahi
................................................................................... 143
B.
[§ 6.6]
Maryland
State Law....................................................................
145
C.
[§ 6.7]
Maryland
Federal Cases..............................................................
148
II.
SUBJECT
MATTER JURISDICTION ............................................... 149
A.
[§ 6.8]
Maryland
Law.............................................................................
149
B.
[§ 6.9]
Federal
Law................................................................................
149
III.
SERVICE
OF PROCESS ...................................................................... 150
IV.
VENUE
................................................................................................... 151
A.
[§ 6.10]
Maryland
Law.............................................................................
151
V.
FORUM
NON CONVENIENS ............................................................ 152
A.
[§ 6.11]
Maryland
Law.............................................................................
153
B.
[§ 6.12]
Federal
Applications....................................................................
153
VI.
REMOVAL
............................................................................................ 155
A.
[§ 6.13]
Maryland‑Removal
from County to County..................................
155
B.
Removal from State to Federal Court........................................................
156
1.
[§ 6.14]
Generally
.............................................................................. 156
2.
[§ 6.15]
Removal
procedure .............................................................. 156
3.
[§ 6.16]
Right
to removal ................................................................... 158
VII.
[§ 6.17]
CHOICE
OF LAW .................................................................... 160
A.
[§ 6.18]
Constitutional
Restraints on Choice of Law...................................
160
B.
Maryland Choice of Law Provisions..........................................................
161
1.
[§ 6.19]
Tort
causes of action ............................................................ 161
2.
[§ 6.20]
Contract
causes of action and breach of warranty .................. 163
3.
[§ 6.21]
Renvoi
................................................................................. 163
Chapter Seven
Substantive
Defenses
I.
[§ 7.1]
ASSUMPTION
OF RISK ......................................................... 167
A.
[§ 7.2]
The
Defense Generally.................................................................
167
B.
[§ 7.3]
Compared
with Contributory Negligence......................................
168
C.
[§ 7.4]
The
Primary/Secondary Categories Rejected................................
169
D.
[§ 7.5]
The
Elements of the Defense........................................................
170
1.
[§ 7.6]
Knowledge
of the risk .......................................................... 170
2.
[§ 7.7]
Appreciation
of the risk ........................................................ 171
3.
[§ 7.8]
Voluntarily
confronting the risk .............................................. 171
E.
[§ 7.9]
The
Defense in Products Liability Actions.....................................
172
II.
CONTRIBUTORY
NEGLIGENCE ..................................................... 174
A.
[§ 7.10]
Generally.....................................................................................
174
B.
[§ 7.11]
Elements
of the Contributory Negligence Defense.........................
175
C.
[§ 7.12]
Exception....................................................................................
175
D.
Application to Maryland Products Liability Actions.................................... 176
1.
[§ 7.13]
Negligence
theory ................................................................. 176
2.
[§ 7.14]
Strict
liability theory .............................................................. 177
3.
[§ 7.15]
Breach
of warranty theory .................................................... 177
III.
[§ 7.16]
MISUSE
..................................................................................... 178
IV.
[§ 7.17]
ALTERATION
.......................................................................... 182
V.
SPOLIATION
........................................................................................ 184
A.
[§ 7.18]
Maryland
State Cases..................................................................
184
B.
[§ 7.19]
Federal
Cases.............................................................................
186
VI.
[§ 7.20]
GOVERNMENT
CONTRACTOR DEFENSE ......................... 188
A.
[§ 7.21]
Elements......................................................................................
188
1.
[§ 7.22]
Government‑approved,
reasonably precise specifications ...... 190
2.
[§ 7.23]
Compliance with specific