Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A patent defect is a problem or issue that is easily noticeable to most people. It can be something that is dangerous or flawed and can be seen with a reasonable inspection. For example, a broken step on a staircase or a missing fence around a swimming pool are considered patent defects. If someone is injured because of a patent defect, the person or company responsible may not be held liable for damages. This is because the defect was obvious and should have been fixed or avoided by the injured party.
A patent defect is a flaw, dangerous condition, or other deficiency that is easily noticeable to an ordinary person. This is in contrast to a latent defect, which is not easily noticeable. In legal terms, a patent defect may relieve a potentially liable party from liability if the injured party suffered their injury as a result of the patent defect.
These examples illustrate how a patent defect is something that an ordinary person would notice upon reasonable inspection. For instance, an absence of a fence around a swimming pool is a patent defect because it is something that an average person would notice and recognize as a potential danger. Similarly, raised paving stones on a patio or a defective landing are also patent defects because they are easily noticeable and could cause harm to someone.
These examples illustrate how a latent defect is something that is not easily noticeable upon reasonable inspection. For instance, an improperly designed heating and air conditioning system or the absence of a vapor barrier are not things that an average person would notice upon inspection. These defects are latent because they are hidden and not easily noticeable, and could cause harm without the injured party being aware of the defect.