Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

Torts

Consumer expectations test

Articles 1 - 9 of 9

Full-Text Articles in Law

A Fictional Tale Of Unintended Consequences: A Response To Professor Wertheimer, Aaron Twerski, James A. Henderson Jr. Apr 2005

A Fictional Tale Of Unintended Consequences: A Response To Professor Wertheimer, Aaron Twerski, James A. Henderson Jr.

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Consumer Expectations' Last Hope: A Response To Professor Kysar, James A. Henderson Jr., Aaron Twerski Nov 2003

Consumer Expectations' Last Hope: A Response To Professor Kysar, James A. Henderson Jr., Aaron Twerski

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

The authors agree with Professor Kysar that the current version of the consumer expectations test for design defectiveness is an amorphous, unprincipled misreading of section 402A of the Restatement (Second) of Torts. And they agree that most courts apply risk-utility balancing in determining design defectiveness. But they disagree with Kysar's proposal to supplement risk-utility balancing with a reinvigorated consumer expectations test based on expert testimony regarding what consumers actually expect in the way of design safety. Judicial reliance on such testimony would be susceptible to result-oriented manipulation by litigants, would not guide manufacturers in making sensible design choices, would pressure …


Ethics Of Enterprise Liability In Product Design And Marketing Litigation, James A. Henderson Jr. May 2002

Ethics Of Enterprise Liability In Product Design And Marketing Litigation, James A. Henderson Jr.

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

American courts talk as though they are imposing strict enterprise liability on product manufacturers, but in truth they do so only with respect to manufacturing defects. In product design and marketing litigation, manufacturers' liability is based on fault. The reason why strict liability is inappropriate for the generic product hazards associated with design and marketing is that, in sharp contrast to manufacturing defects, the conditions necessary for insurance to function are not satisfied. Users and consumers control generic product risks to a sufficiently great extent that any insurance scheme based on strict enterprise liability would be destroyed by combinations of …


Intuition And Technology In Product Design Litigation: An Essay On Proximate Causation, James A. Henderson Jr., Aaron Twerski Apr 2000

Intuition And Technology In Product Design Litigation: An Essay On Proximate Causation, James A. Henderson Jr., Aaron Twerski

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Product Design Liability In Orgeon And The New Restatement, James A. Henderson Jr., Aaron Twerski Apr 1999

Product Design Liability In Orgeon And The New Restatement, James A. Henderson Jr., Aaron Twerski

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


What Europe, Japan, And Other Countries Can Learn From The New American Restatement Of Products Liability, James A. Henderson Jr., Aaron Twerski Jan 1999

What Europe, Japan, And Other Countries Can Learn From The New American Restatement Of Products Liability, James A. Henderson Jr., Aaron Twerski

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


The Politics Of The Products Liability Restatement, James A. Henderson Jr., Aaron Twerski Apr 1998

The Politics Of The Products Liability Restatement, James A. Henderson Jr., Aaron Twerski

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


A Discussion And A Defense Of The Restatement (Third) Of Torts: Products Liability, James A. Henderson Jr. Jan 1998

A Discussion And A Defense Of The Restatement (Third) Of Torts: Products Liability, James A. Henderson Jr.

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Arriving At Reasonable Alternative Design: The Reporters' Travelogue, James A. Henderson Jr., Aaron Twerski Jan 1997

Arriving At Reasonable Alternative Design: The Reporters' Travelogue, James A. Henderson Jr., Aaron Twerski

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

Substantial commentary and controversy have been generated by the requirement in the new Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability that plaintiffs in most (but not all) cases involving claims of defective product design show that a reasonable alternative design was available and that failure to adopt the alternative rendered the defendant's design not reasonably safe. Henderson and Twerski explain the origins of that requirement and show that it is not only the majority position but also comports with widely shared views regarding the proper objectives of our liability system. Although consumer expectations cannot serve as a workable, stand-alone test for …