26 Cal. 3d 588, 607 P.2d 924, 163 Cal. Rptr. 132 (Cal. 1980)
Sindell v. Abbott Laboratories is a landmark case in tort law that established the doctrine of market share liability.
Can a plaintiff, unable to identify which of multiple manufacturers made the drug that caused her harm, recover damages from these manufacturers under a theory of market share liability?
Market share liability allows plaintiffs to recover damages from multiple manufacturers of a fungible product, where it is impossible to identify the specific producer of the harm-causing product, by apportioning liability based on each manufacturer's market share of the product.
The California Supreme Court held that the plaintiff could pursue claims against the manufacturers under the doctrine of market share liability, thereby apportioning damages according to each manufacturer's share of the market for DES.
Sindell v. Abbott Laboratories is significant for law students as it represents a paradigm shift in products liability law, particularly in the context of mass-produced pharmaceuticals. The case articulates a novel approach to causation, which is a crucial element in tort law, addressing the limitations of traditional liability doctrines in dealing with complex product identifications. For students, it underscores the importance of judicial innovation in adapting legal frameworks to contemporary challenges, influencing how courts address similar challenges in future litigious scenarios.