When consumers purchase a product, they expect it to be safe and free from defects. Unfortunately, not all products meet those expectations, and defective products can cause serious injuries or even death. In Idaho, consumers have legal options to hold companies accountable for defective products. In many cases, the parent company or holding company can be held responsible for the actions of their subsidiaries.
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What are Defective Products?
A defective product is any product that is unsafe for its intended use due to a design flaw, manufacturing defect, or inadequate warning label. Examples of defective products include faulty airbags, malfunctioning medical devices, and dangerous prescription drugs. Defective products can cause injuries, illnesses, or property damage.
Idaho’s Product Liability Laws
Idaho’s product liability laws allow consumers to hold manufacturers, distributors, and sellers responsible for defective products. Under Idaho Code ยง 6-1401, a product is considered defective if it is "unreasonably dangerous when put to its intended or reasonably foreseeable use."
Types of Idaho Product Liability Claims
There are three types of product liability claims in Idaho:
Manufacturing defect: This is a defect that occurs during the production of the product. For example, a batch of airbags may have been made with faulty parts, causing them to malfunction and not deploy in a collision.
Design defect: This is a defect in the product’s design that makes it unsafe for use. For example, a medical device may have been designed in a way that causes it to break down and cause harm to a patient.
Failure to warn: This is a defect in the product’s warnings or instructions that make it unsafe for use. For example, a prescription drug may not have proper warnings about potential side effects, leading to harm to the patient.
Holding Companies Responsible
In some cases, a subsidiary company may be responsible for a defective product, but the parent company or holding company can also be held responsible. A holding company is a business that owns other companies, and it may be responsible for the actions of its subsidiaries.
Ways to Hold a Holding Company Responsible
There are several ways that a holding company can be held responsible for the actions of its subsidiaries:
Control: If a holding company exercises control over the subsidiary, it can be held responsible for the subsidiary’s actions. For example, if the holding company dictates the design or production processes for the product, it can be held liable for any defects.
Integrated enterprise: If the holding company and the subsidiary are so closely integrated that they operate as a single entity, the holding company can be held responsible for the subsidiary’s actions.
Agency: If the subsidiary is acting as an agent of the holding company, the holding company can be held responsible for any harm caused by the subsidiary’s actions.
Failure to supervise: If the holding company failed to properly supervise the subsidiary’s actions, it can be held responsible for any harm caused by the subsidiary’s actions.
Statute of Limitations
In Idaho, there is a two-year statute of limitations for filing a product liability lawsuit. This means that the consumer must file a lawsuit within two years from the date of injury or discovery of the injury. If the lawsuit is filed after the two-year deadline, it may be dismissed.
Conclusion
Defective products can cause serious harm to consumers, and Idaho has laws in place to hold companies accountable for their actions. Holding companies can be held responsible for the actions of their subsidiaries, and consumers have legal options to seek compensation for any injuries or damages caused by defective products. If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, contact an experienced product liability attorney to discuss your legal rights.