Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 221 (2026)

Defective or unreasonably dangerous goods

✓ current as of May 2026

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One who sells any goods or products in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer or to his property is subject to liability for physical harm thereby caused to a person whom the manufacturer, seller or supplier might reasonably have expected to use, consume or be affected by the goods, or to his property, if the seller is engaged in the business of selling such a product and it is expected to and does reach the user or consumer without significant change in the condition in which it is sold. This section applies although the seller has exercised all possible care in the preparation and sale of his product and the user or consumer has not bought the product from or entered into any contractual relation with the seller. [PL 1973, c. 466, §1 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1973, c. 466, §1 (NEW).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 79 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case: Adams v. Buffalo Forge Co., 443 A.2d 932 (Me. 1982).

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Adams v. Buffalo Forge Co., 443 A.2d 932 (Me. 1982). · cites it 26× “In the alternative, they urge us to reexamine the requirement of privity in products liability actions and, further, to here apply Maine's strict liability statute, 14 M.R.S.A. § 221. We vacate the judgment of the Superior Court and remand this case for further proceedings…”

Bernier v. Raymark Indus., Inc., 516 A.2d 534 (Me. 1986). · cites it 27× “1985-1986) and Rule 76B of the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure: (1) Whether evidence of the state-of-the-art is admissible in an action based on 14 M.R.S.A. § 221 when the product defect alleged is a failure to warn; (2) whether damages allowed under Maine's Wrongful Death Act…”

St. Germain v. Husqvarna Corp., 544 A.2d 1283 (Me. 1988). · cites it 8× “Strict liability in Maine is governed by 14 M.R.S.A. § 221 (1980), which reads in its entirety as follows: *1285 One who sells any goods or products in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer or to his property is subject to liability for physical…”

Patricia Grant v. Foster Wheeler, LLC, 2016 ME 85 (Me. 2016). · cites it 3× “[¶ 8] The complaint, later amended, was filed in the Superior Court (Sagadahoc County) in' March 2012, alleging negligence, violation of 14 M.R.S. § 221 (2015) (defective or unreasonably dangerous goods), 2 and loss of consortium.”

Margaret Austin, Etc. v. Unarco Indus., Inc., 705 F.2d 1 (1st Cir. 1983). · cites it 3× “The strict liability statute, 14 M.R.S.A. § 221, was passed in 1973. Since that time, the Maine courts have not addressed the applicability of § 156, enacted eight years earlier, to claims brought under § 221.”

Burke v. Hamilton Beach Div., Scovill Mfg. Co., 424 A.2d 145 (Me. 1981). · cites it 6× “Finally, in 1973, the legislature recognized the doctrine of strict liability in tort by enacting 14 M.R.S.A. § 221. [4] P.L.1973, ch. 466, § 1.”

Starr Surplus Lines Ins. Co. v. Mountaire Farms Inc., 920 F.3d 111 (1st Cir. 2019). · cites it 2× “§ 2-315, and strict product liability, see Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 221, based on the allegation that the chicken that Mountaire had supplied to AdvancePierre was contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis .”

Dutil v. Burns, 674 A.2d 910 (Me. 1996). · cites it 3× “The court held that “[a] physician or dentist using items for a medical procedure is not a seller or supplier of defective or unreasonably dangerous goods within the meaning of 14 M.R.S.A. § 221.” The court held that the claims against defendants were “actions for professional…”

Est. of Pinkham v. Cargill, Inc., 55 A.3d 1 (Me. 2012). · cites it 5× “14 M.R.S. § 221 (2011). On October 13, 2010, Cargill filed a motion for summary judgment and a statement of material facts.”

Dunelawn Owners' Ass'n v. Gendreau, 2000 ME 94 (Me. 2000). · cites it 3× “In order to have a claim pursuant to 14 M.R.S.A. § 221, there must be a defective good or product.”

Canning v. Broan-Nutone, LLC, 480 F. Supp. 2d 392 (D. Me. 2007). · cites it 4× “The Cannings filed a complaint in state court against Broan, alleging that the fire was caused by a Broan exhaust fan, and alleging negligence, strict liability (14 M.R.S.A. § 221) and breach of express and implied warranties.”

Stanley v. Schiavi Mobile Homes, Inc., 462 A.2d 1144 (Me. 1983). · cites it 2× “The strict liability statute, 14 M.R.S.A. § 221 (1980) 6 provides in part that “[o]ne who sells any goods or products in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer .”

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