William P. Hepner Discusses Products Liability at Yard Sales on CBS News
As a partner and trial lawyer at the New York Personal Injury Law Firm of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, William P. Hepner was a recent guest on CBS news discussing products liability concerns regarding re-sale of items, specifically yard sales. The CBS video refers to a new law made to protect consumers so that they do not purchase any items that have been previously recalled. In his contribution to the report, William P. Hepner explains that if a recalled or defective product is re-sold to an innocent buyer, whether at a yard sale or by other means, and that consumer is injured or even killed, the individual responsible for selling the item can be held accountable for damages in a lawsuit.
Does this mean that if you’re having a yard sale, you need to check every single item to see if it has been recalled before you put it out for sale on your lawn? Even though it may take some time and careful attention, the answer if you want to prevent injuring another person and being sued is, “Yes.”
As mentioned in the CBS report, one of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s jobs is to protect buyers against second-hand products, which includes toys, furniture, clothing, or other items that can be bought or re-sold. In his experience successfully defending the rights of those injured due to defective products, William P. Hepner stands true to his belief that “justice requires that the rights of the individual not be ignored.”
As a skilled products liability attorney in New York at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP, Mr. Hepner suggests that individuals attempting to re-sell items do their homework to ensure that they are not negligent in selling a recalled product that can create avoidable and serious injuries and result in litigation or costly settlements.
