Introduction to German product liability law - Seminar / Kurs von Lehre und Dozentur Gernhuber

Product Liability in Germany

Germany has highly developed laws and regulations concerning product regulation and liability, many of which implement EU law. The Product Liability Act and the Product Safety Act provide the basic rules in this regard, complemented by the Civil Code and the Criminal Code. Particular laws and ordinances also include specific safety and liability rules for certain products (eg, pharmaceuticals). Further, the liability for defective products under the Civil Code has generated a wealth of case law.

In the seminar you will get an overview of the basics of product safety and product liability law. The legal aspects and risks for traders, importers, manufacturers and suppliers are examined in a differentiated manner and avoidance strategies for practice are shown. Many examples and court rulings help you to recognise, better assess and avoid liability and criminal liability risks for the company, but also for the responsibly acting managing directors, board members and employees in good time.

In this seminar you will learn the differences between product and producer liability in an easily accessible way. Who is liable for damage caused by defective products? What are the underlying laws and what product responsibility rests on company owners, managing directors and production managers?

• Overview of liability law
• Product and producer liability law
• Fault and strict liability
• Damages - compensation for pain and suffering
• Tort law and product liability law
• Prerequisites and demarcation from warranty law
• What are the obligations of the manufacturer / supplier / dealer / employee?
• Influence of the Supply Chain Safety Act on Product Liability
• Liability for digital products
• Scope of liability: Limits of liability and possibilities of exoneration
• Law of evidence
• Product recall
• Product liability under criminal law
• Product liability in an international context (short)