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Defective Vehicle Gas Tanks

Vehicle gas tank explosions are responsible for numerous deaths in the United States. Product liability actions involving gas tank explosions generally allege that the injuries the plaintiffs incurred in an accident were made worse because the defective design of the gas tank made it more likely that the gas tank would explode. Actions alleging defective gas tanks usually allege that the gas tank was improperly designed, that it was improperly located on the vehicle, or that the manufacturer failed to warn vehicle owners of the dangers associated with the gas tank or its placement. However, vehicle manufacturers are not required to produce a gas tank that is incapable of exploding.

Bioengineered Foods

Biotechnology refers to scientific techniques that allow DNA to be modified. DNA is the genetic material of all living things.

The Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act and

The Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (CLAA) was passed by Congress in 1965 to make Americans more aware of the adverse health effects of smoking. The CLAA requires health warnings on cigarette packages. As amended by the Comprehensive Smoking Education Act, the CLAA requires cigarette packaging to contain one of four specific labels warning of the adverse health effects of cigarette smoking. Warning statements must also be included in newspaper, magazine, transit and outdoor advertising. Cigarette advertising is banned from radio and television.

Bystander Recovery for Emotional Distress

Strict products liability (liability without regard to fault) is based on public policy considerations. The underlying policy is to shift the risk of loss from the injured party to the manufacturers or sellers of a defective product since they are better able to distribute the loss. The courts have recognized that the same policy considerations apply to an injured bystander. The manufacturer or seller can spread the loss arising from defective products better than an injured bystander can.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

The Consumer Product Safety Act of 1972 (Act) created the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission), a federal regulatory agency. The Safety Commission enforces five federal laws: the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, the Flammable Fabrics Act, the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, and the Refrigerator Safety Act.