The ETS journal
Technical insight & legal analysis.
Long-form perspectives on automotive engineering, materials science, manufacturing and product liability, from 41+ years of industry and courtroom experience.
When Industry Custom Isn't Enough
The "state of the art" defense stands as one of the most formidable barriers to recovery in automotive product liability litigation. Manufacturers frequently argue that their designs reflected...
Traceability in Pigment and Resin Sourcing
In automotive product liability litigation involving plastic components, the ability to trace materials from raw resin to finished part often proves decisive. When components fail, questions...
Tort Reform and Automotive Claims
Over the past four decades, the landscape of product liability litigation has been reshaped by a sustained movement toward "tort reform"—legislative and judicial efforts to limit perceived excesses...
Supplier to Defendant
Modern vehicles contain thousands of plastic components sourced from multiple tiers of suppliers, often crossing international boundaries and undergoing various manufacturing processes before final...
"Robots on the Line
Automotive manufacturers have relied on robotics since 1961, when the Unimate became the first industrial robot unloading hot die-cast parts at GM's Inland Fisher Guide Plant in New Jersey. Today's...
Recalls as Admission? Tactical Use of **NHTSA** Defect Investigations in Court
When an automotive manufacturer issues a safety recall, it initiates a complex sequence of public disclosures, regulatory filings, and remedial actions. These communications—particularly the formal...
Printing the Future
Additive manufacturing AM, commonly known as 3D printing, has transformed automotive design and production since its inception in the early 1980s. From rapid prototyping to end-use metal parts, its...
Pigment-Driven Degradation
The color of automotive components isn't merely aesthetic—it's a complex engineering decision with profound legal implications. When colorants fade, crack, or degrade prematurely, manufacturers...
Material Selection Matrix
Automotive plastics drive innovation—from lightweight bumpers to under-hood brackets—but each resin choice carries distinct mechanical behaviors, compliance obligations, and potential liability...
Just-In-Time vs. Just-In-Case
Since Toyota pioneered the kanban system in the 1950s, Just-In-Time JIT inventory management has transformed automotive manufacturing, minimizing carrying costs and streamlining production. But...
From Lab to Litigation
The scientific analysis of polymers and pigments plays a pivotal role in automotive product liability litigation, often determining whether a case proceeds or resolves before trial. However, the...
Fracture Mechanics 101
When automotive plastic components fail catastrophically, the aftermath often extends beyond the immediate safety concerns to complex litigation involving manufacturers, suppliers, and consumers....
Digital Twin Due Diligence
Virtual-cycle digital twins—digital replicas of physical products that evolve with real-time data—promise radical transformation in automotive development cycles. By simulating real-world...
Daubert at the Driving Wheel
When plastic components fail, metal structures fracture, or electronic systems malfunction, the ensuing litigation often hinges on expert testimony to explain complex engineering and materials...
Cost-Benefit Analysis vs. Consumer Expectations
In automotive product liability litigation, courts have developed two principal frameworks for evaluating design defect claims: the risk-utility test often implemented through cost-benefit analysis...
Compliance vs. Common Law
Automotive manufacturers often invest millions in regulatory compliance, meticulously checking boxes on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards FMVSS, emissions requirements, and certification...
Bioplastics in the Driver's Seat
The automotive industry's push toward sustainability has accelerated the adoption of bioplastics—polymers derived wholly or partially from biological sources such as cornstarch, sugarcane, or...
Airbags, Electronics & the Rise of Software-Enabled Failures
As vehicles have evolved from primarily mechanical systems to complex electronic networks, the nature of automotive product liability has transformed in parallel. Nowhere is this shift more evident...
Adhesives & Advanced Joining
The automotive industry's relentless drive toward lighter, stronger, and more energy-efficient vehicles has accelerated the adoption of advanced joining technologies. Structural adhesives,...
**FMVSS** and Federal Preemption
The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards FMVSS establish minimum performance requirements for vehicle safety components and systems. However, the relationship between these federal standards and...
Next step
Have a case that turns on a plastic part?
Conflict check first. Availability, CV and fee schedule within one business day.
- NDA on request
- Senior engineer replies in one business day
- Fixed price where applicable
- Your data stays yours