“Product Liability: A Brief History of Its Early Origins” begins: Product liability law evolved from contract law, with the first decisions strongly favoring manufacturers. For a very long time, the “general rule” was that a manufacturer could not be sued, even for negligence, by someone with whom he had no contract. This was called the “rule of privity,” and it was most famously set forth in an 1842 case that is bane of every first year law student’s existence–Winterbottom v. Wright.
Denis Stearns, is of-counsel at Marler Clark, earned a BA in philosophy from Seattle University, and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He graduated from both schools with high honors, and won numerous awards for service and
A poultry company in England has disclosed how a Salmonella contamination incident will likely cost it £2.1 million ($2.8 million).
Between March 23 and April 10 this year,
Almost half of companies think food safety and health are among their biggest risks, according to a recent survey.
A total of 45 percent named these topics as their main
Danone has confirmed earlier estimates on the cost of its infant formula recall.
In January 2026, Danone announced a recall of some infant formula batches. Most of them were sold
OPINION
In an article that will soon be published in the Seattle Law Review, I take a look at food safety through the lens of the “pink slime” controversy and
“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?”
— from Robert Browning’s “Andrea del Sarto”
Part 2: Does case law support FDA’
