The case of MacPherson v. Buick Motor Car in 1916 changed product liability law. As a result of it, the courts
adopted the principle of strict liability.
permitted consumers to sue the retailer from whom they had purchased the product.
expanded the liability of manufacturers for injuries caused by defective products.
adopted the principle of caveat emptor.
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is:
Expanded the liability of manufacturers for injuries caused by defective products.
Explanation:
The landmark case of MacPherson v. Buick Motor Co. (1916) is considered a pivotal moment in the development of product liability law, specifically the concept of strict liability for manufacturers.
In this case, Donald MacPherson was injured when the wheel of a car manufactured by Buick collapsed. The wheel had been purchased from a supplier and was not inspected by Buick. However, MacPherson, who had bought the car from a retailer, sued Buick for negligence, claiming that the defect in the wheel was the cause of his injury.
Before this case, the principle of caveat emptor (“let the buyer beware”) was commonly applied in contract law, meaning that if a consumer bought a product that later caused harm, they were often unable to hold the manufacturer accountable unless they could prove negligence. This was a barrier to holding manufacturers responsible for defects in their products, especially if the consumer had bought the product from a retailer rather than directly from the manufacturer.
However, the court, under Judge Cardozo, ruled in favor of MacPherson, stating that Buick (the manufacturer) had a duty to ensure that the car was safe for its intended use, even though the product was sold through a retailer. This decision significantly expanded the legal responsibility of manufacturers, establishing the principle that manufacturers could be held strictly liable for injuries caused by defects in their products, regardless of whether the injured party had purchased the product directly from the manufacturer or from a retailer.
This ruling marked a shift in product liability law, making manufacturers more accountable for consumer safety and paving the way for modern product liability laws that hold companies responsible for defective products.