products liability law: an overview Products liability refers to
the liability of any or all parties along the chain of
manufacture of any product for damage caused by that product.
This includes the manufacturer of component parts (at the top of
the chain), an assembling manufacturer, the wholesaler, and the
retail store owner (at the bottom of the chain). Products
containing inherent defects that cause harm to a consumer of the
product, or someone to whom the product was loaned, given, etc.,
are the subjects of products liability suits. While products are
generally thought of as tangible personal property, products
liability has stretched that definition to include intangibles
(gas), naturals (pets), real estate (house), and writings
(navigational charts). Products liability claims can be based on
negligence, strict liability, or breach of warranty of fitness
depending on the jurisdiction within which the claim is based.
Many states have enacted comprehensive products liability
statutes. These statutory pro