California appeals court rules Amazon can be liable for defective third-party products

Amazon has long claimed it can’t be held liable for the defective products of third-party sellers on the argument that Amazon is merely an intermediary between sellers and buyers. But a recent California appellate court disagreed.

Last month, the California Fourth District Court of Appeals reinstated a woman’s claim for damages she suffered when a defective laptop battery she bought through the Amazon Marketplace caught fire.

The Court held that Amazon was “an integral part of the overall producing and marketing enterprise” that led to the plaintiff’s purchase of and injury by the defective battery.

As it should be, consumer protection is the touchstone of product liability law. And this decision is no different.

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash