Select a company that has been the subject of a product liability lawsuit in the last ten (10) years. Research the lawsuit using legal data. Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:...

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Product Liability Research Pape
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Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 3
Company and the product safety issue .......................................................................................................... 3
Legal theories used by plaintiff and lawsuit resolution ................................................................................ 4
Changes taken place in Toyota to ensure greater safety of products ............................................................ 5
Regulatory agency overseeing the automobile industry ............................................................................... 6
Recommendations for avoiding future lawsuits ............................................................................................ 8
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................... 9
References ................................................................................................................................................... 10
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Introduction
The product liability law has the responsibility of governing the protection of the
consumer from defective or dangerous products and the lawsuits are filed against wholesalers,
distributors, manufacturers or retailers (Cross & Miller, 2011). One of product lawsuits in the
automobile sector is discussed involving Japanese multinational automaker Toyota Motor
Corporation regarding what led to filing the lawsuit, the verdict, changes in the product,
egulatory body overseeing the industry and recommendations for the company in concern to
corporate ethics and corporate governance.
Company and the product safety issue
Toyota Motors Corporation is Japanese automaker and the product liability lawsuit
involves manufacturing default in the accelerator of the Toyota made Lexus sedan car. In August
2009, the Mark Saylor who was California Highway Patrol Officer led the company was driving
the vehicle that he
ought on loans from a local dealer as his car was in for the purpose of some
epairs. There were three other people in the car- his wife, daughter and
other-in-law.
The car accelerator started accelerating on its own and all the attempts made by the driver
to slow down the speed and apply the
ake were unsuccessful reaching the speed of more than
120mph and it hit the a car and flew through the air before it rolled into a field and catched the
fire (Miller & Cross, 2011).
The lawsuit said that the electronic throttle control system could be defective that resulted
in the problems in the acceleration of the car. The lawsuit stated that the unintended acceleration
in vehicles of Toyota occur frequently in the case of the Toyota vehicles as the government data
stated.
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The lawsuit said that the manufacturing defects in the throttle control system with sticky
gas pedals and faulty floor mats along-with driver e
or led to the death of 4 people in the San
Diego accident. The product liability claims were put on Toyota regarding wrongful death of 4
family members considering the manufacturing and designing defects in the car’s electronics
(Toyota settles suit over deadly wreck, 2010).
Legal theories used by plaintiff and lawsuit resolution
In order to recover in the lawsuit, the plaintiff sought compensatory and punitive
damages that were based on the theories of strict liability and negligence on the part of the
manufacturer. The claim was made against the manufacturing defects in the car’s electronics
which led to high speed acceleration of Toyota Lexus and resulting in wrongful death of Saylor
and family.
The strict liability theory in the product liability law states that anyone who sells the
manufacturing product in a defective condition which is unreasonably dangerous to the user or
the consumer of the product or his property, is subject to the liability for causing physical harm
which is caused to the ultimate user or consumer or the property of that user or consumer (Miller
& Cross, 2011).
The seller is...