What is the Learned Hand Rule?

The Learned Hand Rule is an important legal doctrine in New York law pertaining to dangerous products. It holds that in order for a plaintiff to succeed in a dangerous product lawsuit, they must prove both that the product was defective and that the defect caused their injuries. If the plaintiff is able to prove both of these things, they may be able to recover damages from the manufacturer. The Learned Hand Rule is named for Judge Learned Hand, who wrote the opinion in the landmark case of MacPherson v. Buick Motor Co., in which he held that a plaintiff has the right to bring a claim for a defectively-manufactured car even if they did not purchase it directly from the manufacturer. The rule was later made part of New York law, and has since been applied to other products as well. The Learned Hand Rule is an important part of New York’s dangerous products law and serves to protect innocent consumers from being harmed by defective products. It applies to all products, ensuring that manufacturers are held responsible for any damages caused by their products. By holding manufacturers liable for their mistakes, it also acts as a deterrent to careless and negligent acts that can lead to injury or death.

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What is the Learned Hand Rule?

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