Defective Consumer Products

Most goods that you buy, except houses, motor vehicles, and large equipment, are consumer products. Consumer products are considered defective if they are improperly designed or manufactured or fail to warn the consumer of the product's dangers. Manufacturers of consumer products have a duty to sell safe products to consumers. If you are injured while using a defective consumer product, you may be able to recover damages from the manufacturer. This article covers the following consumer products: appliances, home products, clothing, lawn mowers, home power tools, and sports equipment.

National Standards for Organic Foods

Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, which requires certification by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) before farms or processors can label their agricultural products as organic. In 2001, the USDA implemented the National Organic Program, which defines the term "organic." The program also specifies the methods, practices, and substances that can be used in producing and handling organic crops and livestock. These standards also apply to processed products.

Intermediaries' Liability for Distributing Drugs and Medical Devices

As a general rule, intermediaries (retailers, distributors, or wholesalers involved in distributing drugs and medical devices) have the same liability for a drug or medical device as the drug company that manufactured the product. Intermediaries that merely distribute the product can generally avoid liability, but distributors whose only activity involved unwrapping and rewrapping the products for sale to the retailer have been held liable. Some states have laws that prevent non-manufacturers from being held liable for injuries caused by defective products.

Causation in Products Liability Lawsuits

Products liability is an area of the law which deals with personal injury and property damage that results from a defective product.

Power Window Accidents

Because deaths from power window accidents are relatively rare, car manufacturers argue that the cost using the more expensive switches is not justified by the small number of deaths and injuries. Further, they claim that parents and caregivers are ultimately responsible for supervising their children in cars. Consumer safety groups argue that because the injuries and deaths are readily preventable, the change should be made even if the impact is not broad. Further, they claim that children can be injured even with parental supervision.