IMECE2004-59566 Analysis of a Common Cause Hypothesis in a Forensic Product Defect Analysis
James V. Carnahan, Roland L. Ruhl, Mark G. Strauss, and Laura R. Genson, Esq.
Forensic analysis of an accident involving machinery or equipment requires the engineering investigator to determine what role the equipment played in the accident. That analysis involves consideration of "defect" and "proximate cause", items that have very specific legal meaning. The authors will discuss legal requirements relating to the investigator's role in product defect analysis and will provide examples of scientific methodology deemed admissible in Federal Court. Two case examples are given where a reliability analysis based on the Weibull failure distribution was used to support, in part, the expert's conclusions.
Copyright 2004 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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