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Respond to Recalls: Claims and Defenses

By Robert O. Lesley
October 05, 2005

Consumers often ignore product manufacturers' recalls of defective products despite manufacturers' best efforts. The unfortunate but inevitable result is that some consumers are injured. A reasonable defense for manufacturers is that the consumer's fault in ignoring the recall negates their liability. The limited authority available, however, indicates that a manufacturer probably will not be completely exonerated from liability. A consumer's failure to respond to a recall, nevertheless, can be raised as a comparative fault defense. This article reviews existing authority and suggests strategies for manufacturers and consumers when this situation occurs.

Existing Authority

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