Product liability experiences of Japanese manufacturers in the USA

Abstract

The past and present status of product liability litigation in the USA is addressed with attention to the growing number and exorbitant costs of product liability claims. A sampling of product lawsuits and industrial loss claims involving major Japanese companies is studied from the engineering and technical points of view. The critical contributions of independent consultants toward assisting Japanese manufacturers in defense of both real and spurious product defect allegations is discussed at length. The importance of appropriate safety warning design and language in context of `failure to warn' product liability litigation is stressed.