1. Strict Liability and Public Policy
Ch. 20 and 21

2. Strict Liability
Legal responsibility for damage or injury even if you are not at fault.
Only need to prove causation and damage.
What might be a situation of strict liability?

3. Strict Liability Situations
Dangerous Activities
Activities where the risk of harm cannot be eliminated even by reasonable care.
Animals
Owners are responsible for any harm caused by their animals.
Defective Products
The manufacturer is responsible for the harm caused by their product.

4. Defenses to Strict Liability
Very few defenses to strict liability.
Defense must show there was no causation or no damages
Product liability cases may have a defense if the consumer misused the product.

5. Torts and Public Policy
Tort Reform –
1. Amount of $ being awarded
2. Court is expensive – lawyers receiving huge amounts (up to 50%)
3. Civil court cases very time consuming
4. Tort law complicated
5. Injured party sometimes does NOT receive $