International Product Liability, 2nd Edition

Argentina

Introduction
Legal Regime
Consumers' Claims 
Concept of Defect 
Information to Consumers 
Remedies 
Provisions in Consumer Contracts 
Product Liability Insurance 
Product Liability Litigation
Conclusion 

Austria

Introduction 
Historical Evolution 
Purpose of the PHG 
Product and Defective Product 
Warning and Recall Obligations 
Defenses Contributory Fault 
Defect as ‘Proximate Cause' 
Liable Persons General 
Joint and Several Liability 
Burden of Proof 
Remedies 
Disclaimer Clauses 
Statutes of Limitation 
Liability of Corporate Successors
Insurance 
Role of the Courts 
Applicability of Austrian Law
Disclaimer
 

Brazil

Introduction 
Elements of Liability
Defenses Available to Manufacturer
Responsibility 
Criminal Sanctions
Remedies
Successor Liability 
Litigation 
Conclusion 

Canada

Introduction 
Common Law 
Québec Civil Law 
Conclusion 

Colombia

Introduction
Specific Normative Grounds 
Civil Liability Regime for Defective Products 
Civil Code Regulation of Extra-Contractual Responsibility
Collective Actions Provided under the Constitution
Conclusion

Denmark

Introduction
Theories of Liability
Negligence 
Fraud or Misrepresentation 
Warranty 
Strict Liability 
Concept of Defect 
Defenses Available to the Manufacturer 
Liability in the Chain of Commerce 
Remedies 
Limitations 
Successor Liability 
Insurance 
Product Liability Litigation 
Conclusion 

England and Wales

Introduction 
Basis of the Manufacturer's Liability 
Concept of Defect 
Defenses Available to the Manufacturer 
Examples of Strict Liability for Products
Contractual Liability of Distributors Down the Chain
Remedies 
Exclusion or Limitation of Liability 
Statute of Limitations 
Corporate Successor Liability 
Product Liability Insurance
Product Liability Litigation 
Product Safety Legislation and Prosecutions by Trading Standards Officers 
Conclusion

European Community

Introduction 
Theory of Products Liability 
Affected ‘Products' 
Definition and Types of ‘Defect' 
Liable Parties 
Parties Entitled to Recovery
Types of Remedies and Extent of Recovery 
Questions of Evidence 
Limits of Liability 
Other Remedies 
Disclaimer 
Transformation of the EC Directive
Further Developments in the European Community 
Appendix 

India

Introduction
Theories of Liability 
Concept of Defect 
Defenses
Other Parties Impacted by Product Liability Considerations 
Remedies 
Disclaimers/Limitation on Remedies by Contract
Corporate Successor Liability 
Product Liability Insurance 
Product Liability Litigation
Conclusion 

Italy

Introduction 
Legislative Framework 
Product Liability under Contract Law 
Product Liability under Tort Law 
Specific Legislation on Defective Products 
Producer's Liability without Fault
Defenses Available to Producer 
Damages
Statute of Limitations 
Mandatory Regime of Liability 
Conclusion

Malaysia
Basis of Manufacturers' Liability
Obligations to Warn or Recall Defective Products
Defenses Available to Manufacturer
Limitation of Liability by Proximate Cause
Impact of Product Liability Considerations
Remedies
Limitations on Remedies by Contract
Claims Affected by Statute of Limitation
Extension of Liability for Defective Products to Corporate Successors
Roles of Insurance in Product Liability Matters
Roles of Courts and Lawyers in Product Liability Litigation

Mexico

Introduction 
General Aspects of Liability in Mexico 
Theories of Liability 
Concept of Defect 
Obligation to Recall Defective Products 
Obligation to Warn Consumers about Defective Products 
Defenses Available to the Manufacturer 
Proximate Cause 
Liability of Others in the Supply Chain
Remedies 
Contractual Disclaimers or Limitations 
Statutes of Limitations 
Corporate Successor Liability 
Product Liability Insurance 
Product Liability Litigation 
Conclusion

The Philippines

Introduction
Theories on Manufacturers' Liability
Concept of Defect
Obligation to Warn Consumers or Recall Defective Products 
Defenses Available to the Manufacturer 
‘Proximate Cause' Limits 
Others Affected by Product Liability Considerations 
Remedies 
Exclusion or Limitation of Contractual Liability 
Statutes of Limitation 
Corporate Successor Liability 
Product Liability Litigation 
Conclusion 

Poland
Risk-Based Ex Delicto Liability for Dangerous Product
Concept of Defect
Obligation to Warn or Recall Defective Products
Defenses Available to Product Manufacturers
Proximate Cause and Limitation of Scope of Liability
Impact of Product Liability Considerations
Remedies
Disclaimers or Limitations on Remedies by Contract
Claims and Statute of Limitation
Liability of Corporate Successors for Defective Products
Role of Insurance in Product Liability Matters
Role of the Courts and Lawyers in Product Liability Litigation

Portugal

Introduction 
Legislative Framework 
Strict Liability for Manufacturers 
Concept of Defect 
Duty of Information 
Defenses Available to the Manufacturer 
Concept of Manufacturer 
Damages and Remedies 
Limitation Period and Lapse of Rights 
Conclusion 

Romania
Introduction
Traditional Sources of Product Liability
Product Liability under Consumer Law
Transfer of Product Liability to Corporate Successors
Insurance Policies and Product Liability
Court Proceedings in Product Liability Litigation
Conclusion

South Africa

Introduction 
Theories of Manufacturers' Liability 
Concept of Defect 
Obligations to Warn Consumers or Recall Defective Products 
Defenses Available to the Manufacturer
Proximate Cause 
Liability in the Chain of Commerce 
Remedies 
Contractual Disclaimers or Limitations 
Statutes of Limitation 
Corporate Successor Liability 
Product Liability Insurance 
Product Liability Litigation 
Conclusion 

Spain

Introduction
Nature and Characteristics of Product Liability 
Liability in the Chain of Commerce
Concept of Defect 
Defenses Available to the Producer 
Compensable Damage 
Statutes of Limitation
Product Liability Insurance
Conclusion 

Sweden

Introduction 
Product Liability
Contractual Liability 
Non-Contractual Liability 
Concept of Defect 
Obligation to Ward or Recall 
Defenses
Who Can Be Liable? 
Remedies 
Disclaimers and Limitations 
Statutes of Limitation 
Corporate Successors 
Product Liability Insurance
Courts and Lawyers in Liability Litigation 

Ukraine

Introduction 
Legislative Framework for Product Liability
Theories of Liability 
Concept of Defect 
Obligation to Warn Consumers or Recall Defective Products
Defenses Available to the Manufacturer 
Proximate Cause 
Liability of Others in the Chain of Distribution 
Remedies 
Contractual Disclaimers and Limitations 
Statutes of Limitations 
Corporate Successor Liability 
Product Liability Insurance 
Product Liability Litigation 
Conclusion

United States

Introduction 
Theories of Liability 
Concept of Defect 
Obligations to Warn or Recall 
Defenses
Proximate Cause 
Liability of Others in the Chain of Distribution 
Remedies
Class Actions and Multidistrict Litigation 
Disclaimers and Limitations on Remedies 
Statutes of Limitation 
Corporate Successor Liability 
Product Liability Insurance 
Product Liability Litigation 
Conclusion

About the Editor:

Christian Campbell is a Member British Institute of International and Comparative Law (2007-). Admitted to New York State Bar (1992). LL.M. 1988 McGeorge School of Law (1987-88), Sacramento, California. LL.B. 1987 University of Edinburgh (1984-87), Scotland. B.A. Studies (Political Science) University of the Pacific (1982-84), Stockton, California. Reifezeugnis (Austrian Secondary School Leaving Certificate) 1982, Bundesrealgymnasium (1977-82), Salzburg, Austria. Founder and Co-Director 2007- FDI Moot, Law Student Competition for Investor-State Arbitration (www.fdimoot.org). Adjunct Professor of Law 2003- Juris Doctorate Program, Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Mass.

About the General Editor:

Professor Dennis Campbell is the Director of the Center for International Legal Studies (CILS) in Salzburg, Austria, and teaches as an adjunct Professor at Suffolk University Law School. He is the former Director of International Programs and Professor of Law at University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He has lectured at Stockholm University, Helsinki University, Salzburg University, National University of Taiwan, Warsaw University, and Jagiellonian University. He is a member of the New York State Bar and the Iowa State Bar and is a former Assistant Secretary of the California State Senate.

The Center for International Legal Studies promotes the dissemination of information among members of the international legal community, through research and publication projects, post-graduate and professional training programs, and academic seminars, professional symposia and continuing legal education conferences. Nearly 5,000 lawyers worldwide have been designated as Fellows of the CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL LEGAL STUDIES in recognition of their contributions to its programs. The Center provides observers on a regular basis at meetings of UNCITRAL and its Working Groups in Vienna and New York.

Contributors Include:

Argentina, Javier Canosa, Canosa Abogados, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Austria, Benedikt Spiegelfeld and Christine Wallner, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati, Vienna, Austria

Brazil, Lucas Leite Marques, Law Offices Carl Kincaid -- Mendes Vianna Advogados Associados, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Canada, Ilana Schrager, Vanessa Rochester and William McNamara, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Colombia, Natalia Tobón, Cavelier Abogados, Bogotá, Colombia

Denmark, Klaus Ewald Madsen, Bech-Bruun, Aarhus, Denmark; Jes Anker Mikkelse, Bech-Bruun, Copenhagen, Denmark

England and Wales, Peter Burbidge, Senior Lecturer, University of Westminster, London, England

European Community, Susanne Wesch, Wesch & Buchenroth, Stuttgart, Germany

India, Kiran Prakash, Ravi Kini and Dushyant Deep, M.V.Kini & Co, Mumbai, India

Italy, Antonello Corrado and Carmine Gravina, Corrado Ferrari Mainieri Pedeferri & soci, Rome, Italy

Malaysia, Dhinesh Bhaskaran,  Shearn Delamore & Co, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Mexico, Mónica Noriega R., Juan Francisco, Ernesto F. Algaba R. and Michelle Farah M., Barrera, Siqueiros y Torres Landa, S.C., Mexico, D.F., Mexico

The Philippines, Lovely Concepcion C. Matillano, Ma Patricia B. Paz and Salvador L. Peña, Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices, Metro Manila, Philippines

Poland, Marek Oleksyn, Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak, Warsaw, Poland

Portugal, Jacinto Moniz de Bettencourt, João de Sousa Assis and Filipe Fraústo da Silva, Uría Menéndez - Proenca de Carvalho, Lisbon, Portugal

Romania, Horia Ispas, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii, Bucharest, Romania

South Africa, Per E van Eeden, Van Eeden Attorneys, Pretoria / Tshwane, South Africa

Spain, Patricia Gualde, Broseta Abogados, Valencia, Spain

Sweden, Magnus Dahlén, Setterwalls, Gothenburg, Sweden

Ukraine, Yaroslav Shkvorets and Iryna Ostapenko, RULG Ukrainian Legal Group, LLC, Kiev, Ukraine

United States, James Yuanxin Li, StarRaft.com, Oakland, California, USA; David DeBusschere, Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold LLP, San Francisco, California, USA