The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently found Amazon to be a “distributor” with product liability responsibility for products sold on its website. In a July 29, 2024, ruling, the CPSC said Amazon is legally responsible for over 400,000 allegedly hazardous items sold by third-party sellers on its site. Amazon.com, Inc., CPSC Dkt. No. 21-2 (July 29, 2024). This decision and order adopted many, but not all, of the determinations made by an administrative law judge during an administrative proceeding in 2023, highlighting public safety as paramount. Read the full Alert on the Duane Morris website.
Third Circuit Seeks Help Deciphering Pennsylvania Strict Liability Law
On June 2, 2020, the Third Circuit, sitting en banc, took the unusual step of asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to decide a novel question of state law on strict liability for defective products sold through e-commerce websites in a case that will shape the future of products liability and online sales.
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