Federal Court Rules That Defendant's Compliance With Industry and Gov't Standards Admissible in Products Cases

In the case of Lehmann v. Louisville Ladder, Inc., No. 21-CV-4626 (E.D. Pa. July 6, 2022 Kearney, J.), the court clarified its Motion In Limine Order. In this decision, the federal court took issue with the Superior Court’s decision in the case of Sullivan v. Werner, which is currently on appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, relative to the law applicable to products liability cases.

The federal court in this case held that evidence of a Defendant’s compliance with industry and government standards should be admissible under the Tincher case in a products liability matter.


Anyone wishing to review a copy of this decision may click this LINK.  Here is a LINK to the Court's Companion Order of July 6, 2022.

Here is LINK to the Court's July 7, 2022 Clarification Order on the issues presented.


I send thanks to Attorney James M. Beck of the Philadelphia office of the Reed Smith law firm for bringing this case to my attention. I also thank Attorney Kenneth T. Newman of the Pittsburgh office of Thomas, Thomas & Hafer for advising of this decision.