Who is said to fear liability in naval procurement?

How would liability attach to a manufacturer for a warship lost in active combat?

The anecdote concerns procurement personnel, whose reported fears rest on legal assumptions disputed by other panelists.

The follow-up asks how a manufacturer could become liable for losing a ship in combat. Government procurement personnel are the people reportedly worried about personal claims. Other panelists challenge the legal premise, including the suggested loss of immunity after a negligent decision. The original account is defended as a description of people's fears, with agreement that those fears do not accurately state the legal rule. The exchange distinguishes a reported motivation from a verified account of liability.