Engineering and law interface

Producer of a product has shown reasonable consideration for the safety, correct quantity, proper labeling, and other social aspects of the product to the consuming public. Since the 1960s these types of important concerns have expanded and been reinforced by a recognition of tile consumer s right to know, as well as by concerns for conservation, ecology, antilittering, and the like. 

Numerous safety-related and socially responsible laws have been enacted and many more are on the way. A lawsuit begins when a person (corporations, etc.) whose body or property is injured or damaged alleges that tile injury was caused by the acts of another and files a complaint. The person asserting the complaint is the plaintiff the person against whom the complaint is brought is the defendant. 

Plaintiff complaint must state a cause of action (a legal theory or principle) that would, if proven to the satisfaction of the jury, permit the plaintiff to recover damages. If the cause of action asserted is negligence, then the plaintiff must prove, first, tliat die defendant owed the plaintiff a duty (had a responsibility toward the plaintiff, the public). Then the plaintiff must show that the defendant breached that duty and consequently, that the breach of duty by the defendant was the cause of the plaintiff s injury. 

There are many examples of action to eliminate or reduce problems. As an example there is the Quality System Regulation (QSR). FDA requires details on how products such as medical devices are manufactured. The details of the process are documented so that once a product produced in USA is approved, following what was in the QSR preparation can only produce the product. No change can be made. The exact plastic composition has to be used, process control settings remain the same, etc. Literally if a waste paper basket had been identified and located in a specific location in the plant, you can not relocate, change its size, etc. It has been reported that to make a change could cost literally a million dollars. Result of the QSR regulation is too ensure the safety of a person when the medical device is used. 

It has been unofficially reported that in USA there exists more liability court cases and over 85% of tlie lawyers worldwide are in USA. This location condition of number of cases and lawyers exists because in USA botli parties (defendant and plaintiff) are innocent and if the plaintiff loses, tlie defendant only pays what he/she developed. Practically in the rest of tlie world, tlie law says tliat one side is right and the other side is wrong. But more important is tlie fact that if the plaintiff loses he/she pays all bills (tliose of tlie defendant, the court, and plaintiff). 

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