In a highly anticipated decision arising from a certified question from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, on Dec. 10, 2024, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that all common law public nuisance claims arising from the sale of a product have been abrogated by the Ohio Product Liability Act (OPLA). This decision finally gives manufacturers the clarity they have been seeking since at least 2005.

Manufacturers and distributors are most often impacted by product liability and public nuisance lawsuits. This ruling makes clear that claims must be brought under the OPLA.

“We are glad that there is no longer any doubt that plaintiffs must bring claims under the OPLA and cannot circumvent statute,” said OMA’s Lindsey Short, Chairwoman of the Ohio Alliance for Civil Justice. 12/10/2024