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FAQs: What to Know About Ontario’s Product Liability Laws

In 2016, the tech world was in a frenzy when a popular smartphone brand was under siege for selling defective phones. Units all around the world exploded or caught fire, causing injuries or property damage. Some airlines banned passengers from bringing the phone model onboard.

Canada has laws in place to protect you from these kinds of situations. Product liability laws see to it that products available on the market meet safety standards and the expectations of the consumers. To protect yourself from the dangers of product defects, it pays to be familiar with the basics of product liability laws. Here are some of the frequently asked questions in the field:

Q: What is product liability?

Product liability refers to when manufacturers, sellers, distributors, or another company is held responsible for a consumer’s defective purchase. Generally, Canadian law requires products to meet the ordinary expectations of the buyer. A product is considered defective when there are flaws in the design or manufacturing, or when the customer is given insufficient warning regarding potential dangers involved in the expected use of the product.

Product defect is when the product falls short of reasonable standards.

Q: How is “product defect” defined?

Tort liability arises from defects in any type of tangible personal properties. Product liability laws do not cover products that are non-tangible.

In the common law provinces of Canada (like Ontario), the complainant must prove that the product is defective. This is commonly defined as “a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer or to his property.” This means the product itself falls short of reasonable standards.

Generally, the product will be judged by the standard in place at the time the product entered the marketplace, not when the injury occurred.

Q: Who can be held responsible for product defects?

All parties involved in the distribution of the product are potentially liable for product liability claims if a plaintiff successfully proves negligence, including:

  • Manufacturers
  • Inspectors and certifiers
  • Importers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers
  • Repairers and installers
  • Product owners

Q: Who qualifies for product liability claims?

The following conditions must be met to qualify for compensation for injuries acquired due to defects in products:

  • The cause of the injury must be a product as defined by the law
  • The injured party must show that the product was defective
  • The injured party must show that the defect was present at the time the product left the possession of the manufacturer, supplier, or retailer
  • The injured party must show that it was the defect in the product that caused the injury

Q: What kind of defects can make someone liable

There are three primary types of defects that may cause manufacturer or supplier liability:

  • Defects in Manufacturing
    This happens during the manufacturing process of the product and includes any mistake on the part of the manufacturer, ranging from faulty materials to food contamination.
  • Defects in Design
    This occurs when the product flaw originates before manufacturing. These flaws happen during the planning process, such as a flawed design or faulty structure.
  • Defects in Marketing
    These are defects that arise from the marketing of the products. This includes mislabelling, failure to warn consumers of all foreseeable injuries that the product may cause, and the lack of instructions on the proper handling of the product.

Q: On what legal basis can product liability claims be made?

The defendant of a product liability claim may answer to the other party on the basis of either contract law or tort law. If there is a contractual relationship between the manufacturer and the customer, liability is typically founded on the principles of contract law, but in some cases, liability in tort law may also exist.

Seeking compensation for damages or injuries due to defective or dangerous products under tort law requires a claim of negligence. The complainant must establish the following to prove negligence:

  • The defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff with respect to the product
  • The product was defective or unreasonably dangerous
  • The defect caused or contributed to the plaintiff’s damages
  • The plaintiff’s damages were reasonably foreseeable

 The burden of proof in tort cases typically lies with the plaintiff.

Q: On whom does the burden of proof lie?

In tort law, the burden of proof lies on the claimant. It is up to them to establish that the product was indeed defective and that the defect caused or contributed to their injuries or loss. Causation is generally tested by showing that the loss or injury would not have occurred if the defendant exercised reasonable care.

The courts will not automatically relieve defendants from liability in case other factors played a role in causing the complainant’s injuries. If there are numerous potential causes of the loss or injury, causation will be established by the complainant’s ability to prove that the negligence of the defendant played a material role in causing or contributing to it. In “failure to warn” cases, the burden of the complainant is to prove that, had there been sufficient warning, the product would have been handled as prescribed.

Q: What evidence can be presented to support claims in product liability cases?

Typically, the courts will decide liability on evidence alone. In instances where direct evidence of negligence is not available, however, the court may take circumstantial evidence into consideration to establish a prima facie case of negligence.

Doctors and engineers may be considered expert witnesses.

Q: Can the parties rely on expert witnesses to support their claims?

The court typically accepts expert evidence in the form of written reports and testimonies during a trial during product liability cases. This makes the instruction and selection of experts, and their reports, critical elements during product liability litigation.

According to the Supreme Court, expert evidence must meet the following to be admitted:

  • Relevant
  • Necessary to assist the trier of fact
  • Not barred by an exclusionary rule
  • Given by a duly qualified expert

In situations where the scientific method involved in the expert’s opinion is unorthodox, the party advancing such has to prove that the science is reliable.

Civil liability may not rise to the level of criminal liability.

Q: Can a defendant be held criminally liable for defective products?

While there are no provisions in the Canadian Criminal Code specifically related to supplying defective products, there are extraordinary circumstances that hold a supplier criminally liable for fraud or criminal negligence. Other offences found in the Criminal Code that can apply in product liability cases include the Hazardous Products Act, Food and Drugs Act, and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act.

If one believes that the manufacturers and distributors must be held criminally liable, there must be a separate and independent criminal prosecution. If the defendants were found liable in the context of civil law, it does not mean that they are also criminally liable.

Q: Is there a need for court approval for settlement of product liability cases?

Except in cases where the plaintiff is under a legal disability (such as being a minor), court approval is not needed to settle private legal actions.

Settling class action suits, on the other hand, requires court approval. A notice of a settlement agreement and a date of the hearing for the motion of court approval must be posted. Class members who want to object to the terms of the settlement agreement may attend the hearing and object to its approval.

Q: Can liability be mitigated or excluded?

In some cases, manufacturers and suppliers can contractually limit or exclude liability for defective products. This is commonly done through sales contracts that explicitly stipulate and set the extent of the seller’s obligations.

Q: Do Canadian courts have jurisdiction over non-Canadian companies?

Canadian courts may assume jurisdiction over the manufacturer and other parties involved in the distribution chain even if the defending party is not incorporated (or does not conduct their business) in Canada. Generally, the courts agree that when manufacturers release their products to the public, the court of all territories where the supplier or manufacturer should have reasonably foreseen that their product will be used, purchased, or consumed may assume jurisdiction over a claim.

Q: How long does a claimant have to file a complaint?

The statute of limitations of claiming product liability is within two years from the date on which the claim is discovered. This is usually defined as the date on which the product causes the injury. This period may be extended in certain circumstances such as when the claimant is not aware of, and could not have reasonably discovered, the damages suffered.

A personal injury lawyer can help make processing claims smoother.

To make filing claims for injuries caused by product defects and dangers, ease the process with the assistance of an experienced product liability lawyer. They are well-equipped with the necessary skills needed to prepare the required evidence and paperwork to make your case.

If you need a tort and injury lawyer in North York and Toronto, Rooz Law Personal Injury Lawyers is at your service. Call us at (416) 229-6000 to make an appointment.

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    Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult a lawyer for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as a lawyer-client relationship has been established.

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