What must a plaintiff show in a products liability case to establish a claim against a manufacturer?

In a products liability case, the plaintiff is required to demonstrate that there is a defect in the product. This defect can be one of three types: a manufacturing defect, a design defect, or a failure to provide adequate warnings or instructions. The core of a products liability claim revolves around the concept of the product being unreasonably dangerous due to this defect, which directly leads to injury or damage.

Establishing a defect is crucial because it serves as the foundation of the plaintiff's argument that the manufacturer failed to provide a safe product for consumer use. The existence of a defect means that the product deviated from its intended design or failed to meet safety standards, thus reaching the threshold necessary for liability.

In contrast, while negligence, evidence of warranty, or compliance with industry standards may be relevant in certain contexts, they do not bear the same fundamental necessity in all products liability cases. The focus on a defect simplifies the burden on the plaintiff in proving a claim, as it concentrates on the product's safety rather than the manufacturer's conduct or adherence to standards at the time of the product's creation.