The Development of Product Liability

Mass production and changes in distribution chains have severely restricted the power of the seller and the buyer to use their own skill and judgement. As a result, 'product liability' has developed into a distinct area of legal regulation.

Traditional legal techniques, such as the warranty against latent defects in contract and fault in tort, proved inadequate safeguards. This examination of western-European legal systems combines legal history and comparative law to demonstrate how tort law has adapted to meet these new conditions.

• In-depth studies of a number of different aspects of tort law enable comparisons to be made across particular topics, thus contributing to the understanding of civil liability and comparative law
• Developments in legal doctrine are related to historical changes and events, to the pattern of litigation, to the impact of contextual factors such as insurance, and the law concerning product safety
• An introductory section provides an accessible and scholarly overview of the issues