This suit might have been inspired by, if not sprung from, an ozone layer: a London judge has ruled against a woman who sued for damages when a condom split during sex and she became pregnant with her third child.
Marina Richardson was asking some $198,200 in damages from the condom's manufacturer, LRC Products, a subsidiary of SSL International, which makes Durex condoms. Reuters says three days of scientific evidence on possible condom split causes went against the 36-year-old woman.
Justice Ian Kennedy said he was not satisfied LRC could be blamed for the split. Richardson's attorneys argued the condom might have weakened because of ozone damage during manufacturing - and that the very fact of the split indicated Richardson was entitled to win her claim, Reuters says.
Kennedy, however, said the condom was manufactured to a higher standard than the relevant British standard, adding that even manufacturers never claim they're 100 percent effective. Richardson claimed she was unaware that LRC hadn't claimed 100 percent protection.
Kennedy also observed the split occurred after an "unremarkable" four-minute afternoon sex session in 1995, Reuters says.
