1.    Exemplary damages may not be awarded against the manufacturer or seller of a product or device that caused the harm claimed by the plaintiff if:

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 19-02.1-26

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.

a.    The product or device was subject to approval under 21 U.S.C. § 355 or premarket approval under 21 U.S.C. § 360e by the food and drug administration with respect to the safety of formulation or performance of the aspect of the product or device that caused the harm, or by the adequacy of the packaging or labeling of the product or device; or

b.    The product or device was approved by the food and drug administration.

2.    Subsection 1 does not apply in a case in which it is determined on the basis of clear and convincing evidence that the defendant:

a.    Withheld from or misrepresented to the food and drug administration information concerning the product or device which is required to be submitted under the federal act which is material and relevant to the harm suffered by the claimant; b.    Made an illegal payment to an official of the food and drug administration for the purpose of securing approval of the product or device; c.    Failed to use reasonable care to comply with the food and drug administration regulations concerning the manufacture of, or the investigation and correction of defects in design or manufacture of, a medical device, and the failure to comply has caused the harm suffered by the plaintiff; d.    Made a significant or knowing departure from official food and drug administration requirements; or

e.    Acted with conscious disregard for human safety.