No Liability for Contributing Funding for Research Activities

Litigation attorney Eric Alexander authored a Drug & Device Law article that examines the recent court decision in Heath v. EcoHealth Alliance. This pivotal case saw the dismissal of negligence and strict liability claims against a nonprofit organization that had provided a subgrant to an external lab allegedly linked to the COVID-19 outbreak. Mr. Alexander explains how the court's reliance on principles of proximate cause and public policy, rooted in the landmark Palsgraf decision, emphasizes the importance of shielding research sponsors from expansive liability. The article highlights the court's cautious approach to imposing liability, which helps support the continued protection of entities funding valuable medical research from unfounded claims.

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