Product liability is the area of law that holds the companies behind a product responsible when that product injures someone. If a tool, vehicle, medication, appliance, or any other item causes harm because it was made, designed, or labeled in a way that made it unreasonably dangerous, the people in the chain that put it on the market can be answerable for the injury.
This section covers injuries caused by defective products: recalls, the mass tort cases that grow out of a widely sold product, and the vehicle technology cases that come up when driver assistance or automation fails. Each page explains what went wrong with the product and who may be responsible.
mass torts10 pages
Cases that grow out of a widely sold product, from consumer goods to contaminated water.
Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (AGGA)? Lawsuits, Product Liability Claims & Dental Device Harms
The Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance, known as the AGGA, is a fixed dental device marketed to remodel the adult jaw, widen the dental arch, and improve airway and facial appearance. It cements to the upper teeth and applies sustained forward pressure.Camp Lejeune: What Happened?
From 1953 to 1987, water at North Carolina's Camp Lejeune Marine base was contaminated by toxic chemicals, including TCE and PCE, exposing as many as one million service members, workers, and families. The contamination has been linked to leukemia and several cancers, and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act lets affected people file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit against the U.S. government.Chemical Hair Relaxer and Cancer Lawsuit
In October 2022, Missouri resident Jennifer Mitchell filed a product liability lawsuit in federal court in Illinois, alleging chemicals in hair-relaxing and straightening products caused her uterine cancer and a hysterectomy; other women, including Michelle Wray, filed similar suits. This page recounts those filings and explains what a product liability lawsuit is, covering design flaws, manufacturing defects, and the role of a product liability lawyer.DockATot Deluxe – Filing a Wrongful Death Product Liability Suit
DockATot Deluxe wrongful death and product liability claims -- SIDS and suffocation risk, the CPSC infant sleep rule, and the deadline to file.Monsanto Round Up Lawsuit
This page traces the Monsanto Roundup litigation, beginning with the first 2016 lawsuit alleging the weed killer caused cancer. Roundup's active ingredient is glyphosate, a non-selective herbicide in use since 1974 and now produced by Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018. The article reviews how the first claimant won on a failure-to-warn theory and explains glyphosate, Roundup Ready crops, and GMOs, drawing parallels to earlier Agent Orange toxic-tort cases.Talcum Powder
In the talcum powder lawsuits, former consumers allege manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson knew their talc-based products could cause cancer. Talc is mined alongside asbestos, a recognized human carcinogen, and asbestos may remain in cosmetic talc. The underlying science remains inconclusive, and experts debate whether asbestos-free talcum powder causes cancer.The Hidden Danger in Your Baby’s Food: Understanding Lead Contamination and Your Legal Rights
Investigations have found dangerous levels of lead and other heavy metals in baby foods from major brands. This page summarizes a February 2021 Congressional report citing manufacturers including Gerber and Beech-Nut, with some products far exceeding bottled-water limits for lead, arsenic, and cadmium, and a 2024 follow-up finding minimal change. It notes contamination extends to rice cereals, teething biscuits, puffs, and juices, and that affected parents may have legal options.The Story Behind Risperdal
This page reviews the history of Risperdal (risperidone), an antipsychotic developed by Johnson & Johnson to treat conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism symptoms. It explains how the drug was prescribed to children and how investigations linked prolonged use to gynecomastia, where young boys develop breast tissue from increased prolactin. The article describes allegations that the manufacturer concealed this risk and that lawsuits have helped victims recover compensation.Why Are People Filing Ozempic Lawsuits?
Ozempic is a weekly semaglutide injection that mimics the GLP-1 hormone, FDA-approved in 2017 for type 2 diabetes; weight loss is a common side effect, though it is not FDA-approved for that use. Ozempic carries potential side effects of varying severity, and most lawsuits center on the manufacturer's alleged failure to adequately warn patients.Why Are There So Many Asbestos Lawsuits?
Asbestos lawsuits remain common for three reasons: asbestos exposure causes diseases like lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma; asbestos was widely used in construction, shipbuilding, and other industries, causing both workplace and secondary exposure; and courts established manufacturer liability, notably the 1997 Borel v. Fibreboard ruling that companies could be responsible for asbestos-related injuries.
vehicle tech5 pages
Driver assistance, automation and collision systems, and who is responsible when they fail.
Exploring the Benefits of Collision Avoidance Systems
A collision avoidance system (CAS) uses radars, cameras, lasers, and software to detect crash risks and either warn the driver through visual, auditory, or haptic alerts or act directly by braking or steering. Common types include forward collision warning, lane departure warning, pedestrian detection, and blind spot warning. These systems reduce crashes caused by distraction and delayed driver reaction.How Can Product Liability Relate to Car Accidents?
A car crash is not always the driver's fault — sometimes a defective part causes it. Product liability is a manufacturer's legal responsibility for injuries caused by a defective product, and it applies to vehicles and components like brakes, tires, airbags, and seat belts. When a defect causes a wreck, the injured person may have a claim against the maker, not just the other driver.The Truth About Tesla’s Autopilot and Self-Driving Claims
Tesla's Autopilot, Advanced Autopilot, and Full Self-Driving are driver-assistance systems, not fully autonomous driving. Tesla designed all three for an attentive driver with hands on the wheel, ready to take control. Despite the FSD name, the system rates only SAE Level 2 of six automation levels. Reported problems include crashes and phantom braking, and the NHTSA has ordered manufacturers to report ADAS-involved crashes.What are lane departure systems?
A lane departure system is a collision avoidance feature that uses cameras to track lane markings and detect when a vehicle drifts out of its lane. Basic versions alert the driver with a warning; more advanced versions actively steer the vehicle back into the lane. The technology helps prevent sideswipe collisions and rollovers, and repeated warnings can signal that a driver is too fatigued to keep driving.Who Is Liable in a Self-Driving Car Accident?
Liability for a self-driving car crash can fall on the vehicle manufacturer, the software developer behind the autonomous system, or the human driver — sometimes more than one. The right defendant depends on what failed: defective hardware, faulty software, or a distracted operator who was supposed to stay in control. Most consumer vehicles are only partly automated, so the person behind the wheel often still bears responsibility.
general3 pages
About The Subaru Electrical System Recall
In late 2022, Subaru issued a voluntary recall of 271,694 Subaru Ascent SUVs over a fire risk in the electrical system. Improperly secured ground bolts could let a terminal overheat and melt nearby components. The issue surfaced through smoke and fire reports between 2020 and 2022, and Subaru linked it to a production tool change. No crashes or injuries were reported at the time of the recall.Ram Tailgate Recall: What You Need to Know
In December 2022, Stellantis issued a voluntary recall of roughly 1.23 million Dodge Ram trucks because misaligned tailgate strikers could let tailgates open unexpectedly, risking lost cargo and traffic hazards. This page identifies the affected Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 models built between 2018 and 2022, notes exclusions like multifunction tailgates and Ram 1500 Classics, and explains the latch-and-striker defect behind the recall.The McDonald's Hot Coffee Case: The Real Story
The McDonald's hot coffee case was not a frivolous money grab. A 79-year-old woman suffered second- and third-degree burns from coffee served at 180-190 degrees, first asked only for her medical bills, and won because McDonald's knew of 700 prior burns and refused to act.