George Bought a Power Handsaw from a Local Hardware Store

question 49

Essay

George bought a power handsaw from a local hardware store.The manufacturer had made the saw with a blade guard,which surrounds the blade,helping to prevent blade contact with the user.The manufacturer sold the saw to a wholesaler,which sold it to the hardware store.The hardware store removed the blade guard from the saw,but put it in the box that contained the saw.When George got home,he noticed that the blade guard was off.He could have reattached it,or he could have taken it back to the store,but George was in a hurry,so he used it the way it was.While sawing,he hit a knot in the wood,the saw kicked back,and the blade hit George's hand,seriously injuring it.Kickbacks are a relatively common occurrence,but if the blade guard had been installed,George would not have between injured.George wants to sue everyone in the chain of distribution under a strict liability theory.Discuss the potential liability of each member in the chain of distribution,and any possible defenses that may be raised.

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Definitions:

Produce

To create, manufacture, or grow goods and products.

Heckscher-Ohlin Model

An economic theory that proposes countries export what they can most efficiently and abundantly produce, based on their factor endowments of labor, capital, and resources.

Absolute Advantage

The capability of one entity to produce more of a good, product, or service with the same amount of resources than another.

Sweatshop Labor

Work done in very poor conditions for low pay, often in factories that make fast fashion, electronics, and other consumer goods.