What is a “state of the art” defense to a product liability claim?

A “state of the art” defense to a product liability claim is a legal argument in which a company or manufacturer defends itself by asserting that their product met the state-of-the-art standards at the time it was manufactured. This means that the product was as safe as it could have been given the technological knowledge available at the time it was made. In Oklahoma, the state has placed the burden of proof on the plaintiff, meaning that it is up to them to prove that a particular product was “unreasonably dangerous.” This means that the manufacturer can point out that the product met the safety standards that were current at the time it was made. This strategy can be used to argue that they are not liable for any harm that might have been caused by the product. It is important to note that this defense is not always successful, and courts may determine that higher standards should have been met or that newer technologies should have been used. Ultimately, a “state of the art” defense is a strategy used in an attempt to avoid liability for harm that may have been caused by a product.

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What is a “state of the art” defense to a product liability claim?

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