Who’s responsible for what you buy on Amazon? The court is to decide

Federal judges will determine if Amazon holds responsibility for damages caused by goods sold on Amazon Marketplace.

According to CNN, the U.S. Third Court of Appeals in Philadelphia is hearing the case “Oberdorf v. Amazon.” The case was originally brought by Heather Oberdorf, who was blinded in one eye in 2015 as a result of a faulty dog collar purchased from third-party seller “The Furry Gang” on Amazon, reports ChainStoreAge.com. Neither Oberdorf nor Amazon has been able to locate The Furry Gang.

In 2019, a lower court determined that under Pennsylvania law, Amazon could be legally considered the seller of the faulty product and held liable for any damages it caused. Amazon is appealing the case, saying it provides a marketplace for third-party sellers but does not act as the seller for third-party transactions. Amazon states this policy in its conditions of use for Amazon Marketplace.

If the Full Appeals court rules against Amazon, it could have a significant effect. A substantial shift in case law holding Amazon liable for third party sales would change the way the marketplace operates. As a result, Amazon would respond by demanding more stringent vetting measures for third-party sellers and their products.

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