Legal Definitions - state of the art

State of the Art

In legal terms, particularly in cases involving product liability, "state of the art" refers to the level of scientific and technical knowledge, as well as the best available technology, that existed at the specific time a product was manufactured or sold. It is a crucial concept used to determine whether a product was considered defective or unreasonably dangerous when it left the manufacturer's control, based on what was known and feasible at that particular historical moment, rather than what is known or possible today.

Essentially, it asks: "Given what was scientifically understood and technologically possible at the time this product was made, was it designed and manufactured as safely as it reasonably could have been?"

• Example 1: Automotive Safety Features

  Imagine a lawsuit concerning a car manufactured in 1995 that was involved in an accident. The plaintiff argues the car was defective because it lacked side-impact airbags, which are standard in modern vehicles. To evaluate this claim, a court would consider the "state of the art" in automotive safety in 1995. If side-impact airbags were not widely developed, understood, or reasonably implementable in mass-produced vehicles at that time, the manufacturer might argue that the car met the safety standards and available technology of its era. The car's design would be judged against the knowledge and technological capabilities of 1995, not against the advanced safety systems of today's cars.

• Example 2: Early Medical Implants

  Consider a patient who received a hip replacement implant in 2005 and later experiences complications, alleging a design defect. The legal assessment of the implant's design would hinge on the "state of the art" in medical device technology and biomechanical engineering as it existed in 2005. This would involve examining the scientific understanding of materials, wear resistance, and surgical implantation techniques prevalent at that time. If the manufacturer utilized the best materials and design principles known and reasonably available in 2005, even if superior materials or designs have since been developed, they could argue the product was not defective according to the "state of the art" when it was made.

• Example 3: Children's Toy Design

  Suppose a child was injured by a small, detachable part from a toy manufactured in 1988, leading to a product liability claim. The court would assess the toy's design against the "state of the art" for toy safety and manufacturing in 1988. This would involve looking at the prevailing knowledge regarding choking hazards for children of specific age groups, the durability of materials, and the common testing standards and design practices used by toy manufacturers at that time. If the toy's design and construction adhered to the highest safety standards and technical knowledge reasonably available in 1988, it would likely not be deemed defective, even if current safety regulations are much stricter and material science has advanced significantly.