What is a “state of the art” defense in defective products law?

A state of the art defense in defective product law is a defense that can be used by a product manufacturer or seller to avoid liability for personal injury (or property damage) caused by the product. This defense is based on the idea that the product was of the highest quality that was available at the time of the sale and did not contain any design or manufacturing defect that would pose an unreasonable risk of harm to the user. The manufacturer or seller must prove that they used the best available technology and followed the most up-to-date safety standards of their industry. In Arkansas, the state of the art defense is available to manufacturers and sellers of products that were sold in a reasonably anticipated use or misuse. The company must show that they used the best available technology or safety standards that were known at the time of the sale. In other words, a manufacturer or seller must show that the product met the highest industry standards available at that time. This defense is not applicable if the product contained a design or manufacturing defect that caused the injury.

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What is a “state of the art” defense in defective products law?

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