States’ COVID-19 Immunity Statutes and Product Liability Claims Related to COVID-19
July 6, 2021
Dinsmore's Chris Cashen, Anne Guillory, Chris Jackson, and Kyle Bunnell were published in dri | Strictly Speaking, Vol. 18 Issue 1. Their article, "States’ COVID-19 Immunity Statutes and Product Liability Claims Related to COVID-19," examines states’ COVID-19 immunity statutes for product designers, manufacturers, and distributors concerning COVID-19-related lawsuits. An excerpt is below.
Over the past year, numerous state legislatures passed bills conferring immunity for individuals and entities related to COVID-19 claims. As of June 1, 2021, 15 states[1] passed legislation targeting COVID-19 claims against product designers, manufacturers, and distributors. While no state statute is the same, common trends become apparent when comparing the statutes. For example, some states, like Indiana, provide immunity for “COVID-19 protective products”:
“‘COVID-19 protective product’” means one (1) or more of the following:
- Personal protective equipment.
- Medical devices, equipment, and supplies used to treat COVID-19, including medical devices, equipment, or supplies that are used or modified for an unapproved use to treat COVID-19 or to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Medical devices, equipment, and supplies used outside of their normal use to treat COVID-19 or to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Medications used to treat COVID-19, including medications prescribed or dispensed for off label use to attempt to treat COVID-19.
- Tests, as approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, to diagnose or determine immunity or exposure to COVID-19.
- A product designed to clean or disinfect to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Any component of an item described in this subdivision.”[2]
Click the link below to read the full article.