Trial lawyers have watched with increasing interest in recent months as malicious computer viruses and worms — all exploiting security flaws in Microsoft software — have crashed computers and networks around the world. It is only a matter of time, they said, before the class-action suits against Microsoft start dropping. The first came last week, filed in State Superior Court in Los Angeles, asserting that Microsoft engaged in unfair business practices and violated California consumer protection laws by selling software riddled with security flaws. The suit seeks class-action status. More such suits are anticipated. The litigation, legal experts said, is an effort to use the courts to make software subject to product liability law — a burden the industry has so far avoided and strenuously resisted. Full Story