HARRY HUGHES, Governor

5119

Very truly yours,
Stephen H. Sachs
Attorney General

Senate Bill No. 625

AN ACT concerning

Product Liability - Sealed Container Defense

FOR the purpose of providing an affirmative a defense that
can be raised to certain actions by certain product
sellers who could not reasonably be expected to know of
defects in the products; providing for certain
exceptions; providing for the entry of summary judgment
or the reinstatement of certain actions under certain
circumstances; defining terms; and generally relating
to the nonliability of the sellers of products.

BY adding to

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

Section 5-309

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1980 Replacement Volume and 1981 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
read(s) as follows:

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

5-309.

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(2) "MANUFACTURER" INCLUDES A PRODUCT SELLER WHO

DESIGNS, ASSEMBLES, FABRICATES, CONSTRUCTS, PROCESSES,

PACKAGES, OR OTHERWISE PREPARES A PRODUCT OR COMPONENT PART

OF A PRODUCT PRIOR TO ITS SALE TO A USER OR CONSUMER. IT

INCLUDES A SELLER OR ENTITY NOT OTHERWISE A MANUFACTURER
THAT IMPORTS A PRODUCT OR OTHERWISE HOLDS ITSELF OUT AS A
MANUFACTURER.

(2) (I) "MANUFACTURER" MEANS A DESIGNER,
ASSEMBLER, FABRICATOR, CONSTRUCTOR, COMPOUNDER, PRODUCER, OR
PROCESSOR OF ANY PRODUCT OR ITS COMPONENT PARTS.