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1、1999年阅读真题精解(2011-05-3010:22:15)转载标签:黄涛考研真题答案教育分类:阅读篇1999Text1It'saroughworldoutthere.Stepoutsideandyoucouldbreakalegslippingonyourdoormat.Lightupthestoveandyoucouldburndownthehouse.Luckily,ifthedoormatorstovefailedtowarnofcomingdisaster,asuccessfullawsuitmightcompensateyouforyourtroubl
2、es.Orsothethinkinghasgonesincetheearly1980s,whenjuriesbeganholdingmorecompaniesliablefortheircustomers'misfortunes.Feelingthreatened,companiesrespondedbywritingever-longerwarninglabels,tryingtoanticipateeverypossibleaccident.Today,stepladderscarrylabelsseveralincheslongthatwarn,amongot
3、herthings,thatyoumight—surprise!—falloff.Thelabelonachild'sBatmancapecautionsthatthetoy"doesnotenableusertofly."Whilewarningsareoftenappropriateandnecessary—thedangersofdruginteractions,forexample—andmanyarerequiredbystateorfederalregulations,itisn'tclearthattheyactuallyprotectthemanuf
4、acturersandsellersfromliabilityifacustomerisinjured.About50percentofthecompanieslosewheninjuredcustomerstakethemtocourt.Nowthetideappearstobeturning.Aspersonalinjuryclaimscontinueasbefore,somecourtsarebeginningtosidewithdefendants,especiallyincaseswhereawarninglabelprobablywouldn'thave
5、changedanything.InMay,JulieNimmons,presidentofSchuttSportsinIllinois,successfullyfoughtalawsuitinvolvingafootballplayerwhowasparalyzedinagamewhilewearingaSchutthelmet."We'rereallysorryhehasbecomeparalyzed,buthelmetsaren'tdesignedtopreventthosekindsofinjuries,"saysNimmons.Thejuryagreedt
6、hatthenatureofthegame,notthehelmet,wasthereasonfortheathlete'sinjury.Atthesametime,theAmericanLawInstitute—agroupofjudges,lawyers,andacademicswhoserecommendationscarrysubstantialweight—issuednewguidelinesfortortlawstatingthatcompaniesneednotwarncustomersofobviousdangersorbombardthemwit
7、halengthylistofpossibleones."Importantinformationcangetburiedinaseaoftrivialities,"saysalawprofessoratCornellLawSchoolwhohelpeddraftthenewguidelines.Ifthemoderateendofthelegalcommunityhasitsway,theinformationonproductsmightactuallybeprovidedforthebenefitofcustomersandnotasprotectiona