State-to-State Variability: Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations (time an injured party has to file notice of a lawsuit) is fairly consistent from state to state; however, the legal exception for minors can stop the statute of limitation and allow the injured party until their eighteenth birthday to file suit.

State-to-State Variability: Statute of Repose

Statute of Repose is another state law that can vary from state to state. This law specifically deals with the time allowed after the sale of a product a product liability lawsuit can be brought to the courts.

State-to-State Variability: Joint & Several Liability

 Part 1 in a series If your business sells products in the U.S., Joint and Several Liability is the best example of how state laws can impact your business. In “Why Naming Multiple Defendants in a Lawsuit  is Common Practice” I…

Product Liability Claims Can Be Unpredictable

I was reviewing the website, www.recalls.gov, the other day with one specific thought in mind – how many products are on the recall list that you would never classify as high risk, but are considered dangerous enough to be recalled or removed…

Nanotechnology and Product Liabilty: The Great Unknown

Back in 2008, I wrote that nanotechnology business development would probably be forced to creep at a snail’s pace. I said that because insurance carriers view nanotechnology as the next “asbestos,”  Surely that would be difficult to insure. It turns…

Health Supplements’ Biggest Problem: Undeclared Substances!

A huge issue facing the health supplement industry is the frequency in which undeclared substances find their way into the products. A study conducted by Informed-Choice indicates that approximately 25% of supplements in the market could be contaminated. Potential risks for…

5 Tips for Start-up Businesses Having Trouble Getting Product Liability Insurance

Karen K. Klein makes some good points in her article “When You Can’t Secure Product Liability Insurance” in BusinessWeek. These two show why it’s sometimes difficult for start-up businesses to get Product Liability insurance: Premiums for even low-risk products are often…

Why Are My Premiums So High?

What every Product Liability insurance shopper wants to know There is a primary reason most start-ups and small businesses don’t qualify for low minimum premiums for product liability. It’s because they don’t qualify to place with a standard or admitted…

Custom Motorcycle Manufacturer Sued for Product Defect

Were they cruising for a bruising? I work with hundreds of different types of manufactures and distributors, but custom motorcycle manufacturers really stand out in the crowd. As a whole, this group is like the motorcycles they design and manufacture:…

$1.5 Million Settlement for Foggy Goggles

Anti-fog goggle issues still unclear Did you hear about the Pennsylvania man who was awarded $1.5 million because his goggles fogged up while water skiing? He hit a log and was seriously injured. On the surface this seems reasonable, but…