There has been a significant change in policy at Amazon as the online mail-order giant has decided to guarantee defective products up to a value of $1,000. Amazon has historically denied any liability for products sold for other businesses and manufacturers even though Amazon also provides warehouse storage. The company actually fills the orders in the warehouse and transfers payments to the primary product maker or distributor. Virginia residents who have purchased defective products from Amazon may now be able to return those for full value if the purchase price was less than the guaranteed $1,000 return limit. It required a lawsuit to force this change in policy.
The court ruling
In a case brought by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, it was determined that Amazon is at least partly liable for the products it sells due to the fact that the company is paid to store merchandise along with filling the orders for the parent manufacturer or other third-party distributor. This requirement is typically not a component of a product liability case. Outlets usually must contribute to the defect in some manner for liability to stand.
The policy change may not suffice
Defective products that do not do what is described or are not as advertised may be easy claims to settle when there is no injury. However, when products injure customers, the $1,000 recovery limit pales in comparison to the medical bills and other potential damages that can be caused by product usage. Product liability attorneys representing injured customers throughout the nation may emphasize this minimal attempt to avoid liability.
Anyone in Virginia who has been injured by using a defective product may be eligible. for compensation. While product liability cases do not require plaintiffs to prove negligence on the part of the respondent, filing a claim might help them recover damages.