The suit against Ford was filed in 1978, and those against other manufacturers have mostly come since then.

But some people involved in the growing wave of claims against German banks and manufacturers offer a different perspective.

The company has successfully defended its rights in over 1,200 court cases against other manufacturers.

"But that is more to protect against after-market manufacturers of replacement parts."

Concerned about a potential for discrimination against other manufacturers, the commission required Lilly to open its list of products to all drug makers.

The provision prevents the data from being used in civil lawsuits against gun dealers or manufacturers.

Bennett is in a race against other giant manufacturers.

The agency has taken action against individual manufacturers.

This bill would make it significantly more difficult to prevail against manufacturers in a wide array of areas.

However, design improvements to increase safety cannot be used against manufacturers in court to show that the product was unsafe.