News Brief
The Legal Intelligencer Queries Michael O’Brien on 3-D Printing and Products Liability Law
Michael O’Brien (Partner-White Plains) was quoted in the May 24, 2016, issue of The Legal Intelligencer regarding its article “3-D Printing Set to Disrupt Products Liability Law.” While few courts have dealt with the rise of 3-D printing, where a person may design and essentially manufacture a product in his or her garage, the traditional supply chain goes out the window, along with many basic notions about strict liability. Examples range from things as mundane as a cyclist printing a bicycle part to doctors using a 3-D printed model of a patient’s heart to practice a complex surgery. “If there’s some type of failure [with the surgery] does that become a medical malpractice problem, or is it a problem with some products liability implications?” said Michael. While it is difficult to determine exactly how the issues will play out in the courts, several attorneys said initial litigation over the technology will likely focus on the medical and auto parts industries.