The Subrogation Strategist

In subrogation cases where the insured’s damages were caused by a defective product, the fact that the product at issue is or was subject to a recall announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) may help to establish that the product was defective when it left the manufacturer’s possession and control. On June 23, 2022, the CPSC announced the following recalls related to products that present fire hazards:

1. SunVilla™ Corporation Recalls Solar LED Market Umbrellas Due to Fire and Burn Hazards; Sold Exclusively at Costco (Recall Alert). According to the CPSC’s website, “[t]he lithium-ion batteries in the umbrella’s solar panels can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.”
2. MTD Products Recalls Troy-Bilt Spacesavr Walk-Behind Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers Due to Fire Hazard. According to the CPSC’s website, “[t]he mower can leak fuel when it is stored in the upright (vertical) storage position, posing a fire hazard.”