Court Applies Comparative Liability Statute in Ariz. Product Defect Case

PHOENIX - An Arizona appellate court has held that the state's comparative fault statute applies to strict liability claims arising from water damage said to be caused by a defective water purifier. State Farm Insurance Cos. v. Premier Manufactured Systems, Inc., No. 1 CA-CV 04-0465 (Ariz. Ct. App., Div. 1).

'The issue before us is whether the principles of comparative fault established by the state legislature ... are applicable to the participants in the chain of distribution of an allegedly defective product. We hold they are,' the Court of Appeals, Division One, said in its Aug. 29 opinion.

State Farm …