Connor v. SKAGIT CORPORATION

Plaintiff appeals a Court of Appeals decision affirming a jury verdict for defendants in a products liability action. The most substantial issue presented is whether in a strict products liability action based on a design defect the plaintiff has the burden of proving the existence of a feasible and safer alternative product design. We hold that, where the plaintiff has based his allegation of design defect solely upon the possibility of alternative designs, the burden of proving the existence of those design alternatives falls on the plaintiff. We affirm the trial court and Court of Appeals.

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