Are there any defenses available to a product manufacturer in a defective products case?
Yes, there are several potential defenses available to a product manufacturer in a defective products case in California. Generally, the party that is accused of selling a defective product (i.e., the defendant) must show that the product was not actually defective, that the defect did not cause the injury, that the plaintiff was not using the product as intended, or that the plaintiff assumed risk. One defense is that the product was not actually defective. If a product did not actually malfunction, then the manufacturer cannot be held accountable for any injuries. A second defense is that the defect did not actually cause the injury. Even if a defect is found in a product, if the plaintiff’s injury was not actually caused by the defect, then the manufacturer cannot be held liable. A third defense is that the plaintiff was not using the product as intended. If a plaintiff is using a product in a way that is inconsistent with instructions or warnings provided by the manufacturer, then the manufacturer may not be held liable for any resulting injuries. Finally, the plaintiff may have assumed some risk when using the product. This is especially true if the product comes with warnings and instructions, or if the plaintiff did something to increase their risk of injury. In these cases, the manufacturer cannot be held liable for any resulting injuries. In conclusion, there are several defenses available to a product manufacturer in a defective products case in California. The defendant can dispute that the product was defective, dispute that the defect caused the injury, argue that the plaintiff was not using the product as intended, or argue that the plaintiff assumed risk when using the product.
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