Final answer:
To win her strict liability lawsuit, Heidi must prove the oven was defective when it left the manufacturer, she did not misuse the oven, and the defect directly caused her injury. Her knowing about the defect beforehand is irrelevant in a strict liability case.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of product liability based on strict liability, the student asks what Heidi must show to win her lawsuit against Good Cookin' Products Company for a defective heat convection oven. Under the doctrine of strict liability, a plaintiff typically does not need to prove negligence; instead, they must show that the product was defective when it left the manufacturer's control, it was used in a foreseeable manner, and the defect caused the injury.
In Heidi's case, to establish a successful claim under strict liability for a defective product, she must demonstrate that the oven had a defect when it left Good Cookin' Products Company, and this defect was the direct cause of her injuries. Importantly, she must confirm that she did not misuse the oven, as misuse of the product can be a defense for the manufacturer. While it's not necessary for her to show she bought the oven directly from Good Cookin', proving chain of distribution can be helpful. Lastly, her knowledge of the defect prior to injury is not relevant under strict liability.