Troja v. Black & Decker Manufacturing Co.
Court of Special Appeals of Maryland
488 A.2d 516 (1985)
Relevant factsFree
Troja (plaintiff) was injured using Black & Decker's (defendant) radial arm saw with its guide fence removed, and his expert -- who had no radial-arm-saw design experience -- would only have testified generally that a "safety interlock feature" could have been added, without any actual design, testing, or data demonstrating feasibility or cost.
IssueFree
Whether, in Maryland, to overcome a directed verdict in a defective design suit based upon strict products liability, a plaintiff must show that, at the time the defective product was made, it was technologically and practically feasible to manufacture an alternative product incorporating the non-defective features.