1.    In any products liability action maintained against a seller of a product who did not manufacture the product, the seller shall upon answering or otherwise pleading file an affidavit certifying the correct identity of the manufacturer of the product allegedly causing the personal injury, death, or damage to property.

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 28-01.3-04

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Property: includes property, real and personal. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

2.    The court shall order the dismissal of the claim against the certifying seller, unless the plaintiff can show any of the following:

a.    That the certifying seller exercised some significant control over the design or manufacture of the product, or provided instructions or warnings to the manufacturer relative to the alleged defect in the product which caused the personal injury, death, or damage to property.

b.    That the certifying seller had actual knowledge of the defect in the product which caused the personal injury, death, or damage to property.

c.    That the certifying seller created the defect in the product which caused the personal injury, death, or damage to property.

3.    The plaintiff may at any time prior to the beginning of the trial move to vacate the order of dismissal and reinstate the certifying seller if the plaintiff can show any of the following:

a.    That the applicable statute of limitation bars a product liability action against the manufacturer of the product allegedly causing the injury, death, or damage.

b.    That the identity of the manufacturer given to the plaintiff by the certifying defendant was incorrect.