For 20 years contractors have been using the “government contractor” defense as enunciated by the U.S. Supreme Court in Boyle v. United Technologies Corp., 487 U.S. 500 (1988).

The defense generally shields contractors from tort liability in state or federal actions alleging that plaintiffs sustained injuries as a result of exposure to defective products or equipment manufactured or supplied under a government contract.

Since Boyle, federal trial and appellate courts have extended the defense to immunize government supply contractors against tort liability in cases involving nonmilitary products and equipment supplied under contracts with the United States.

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