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An Unexpected Evidentiary Battleground: The 'Causation' Element in Consumer Protection Claims Image

An Unexpected Evidentiary Battleground: The 'Causation' Element in Consumer Protection Claims

Jay Mayesh, Jonathan Englander & Victoria Haje

Ordinarily, the focus in a product liability case is on the defendant-manufacturer's duty to design and manufacture a safe and useful product and to warn adequately of any risks associated with its use. But an interesting and unexpected battleground can arise from a tag-a-along consumer protection claim. Here is the scenario: Plaintiff, in an individual action, sues defendant-manufacturer for injuries allegedly sustained in connection with the use of defendant's product. Plaintiff sues under traditional product liability theories as well as under the state's consumer protection statute, which proscribes deceptive and misleading trade practices. In particular, plaintiff alleges a consumer fraud has occurred because she has been injured by a product that, she claims, had been sold in connection with deceptive sales practices; in this case, certain allegedly false or misleading advertisements.

In the Courts Image

In the Courts

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Reviews of key cases of interest to your practice.

Features

After the Guilty Plea Image

After the Guilty Plea

Robert Plotkin

The onslaught of guilty pleas in post-Enron financial fraud cases has created new challenges for defense attorneys in the parallel civil litigation that inevitably accompanies criminal charges. Attorneys for the civil plaintiffs are quick to strike as soon as the guilty pleas are disclosed, demanding that the pleading defendant provide the documents and testimony previously denied to them by the invocation of the Fifth Amendment, and seeking to collect a prompt judgment.

Business Crimes Hotline Image

Business Crimes Hotline

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Key cases from around the country.

Targeting Mutual Funds Image

Targeting Mutual Funds

Michael Kendall & David Rosenbloom

In last month's article, we pointed out that successful enforcement efforts against investment banks have emboldened state and federal authorities to target mutual funds - a fact that has been borne out in the national press over the past few weeks. More precisely, the funds' investment advisers are the targets. We believe regulators' inquiries will most likely examine two general categories, fund administration and marketing. Last month's article discussed fund administration; the following concentrates on trade allocations, and advertising and marketing.

Features

HIPAA: Data Trade Prosecutions on the Horizon? Image

HIPAA: Data Trade Prosecutions on the Horizon?

Ronald H. Levine

Mention HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) to a typical CEO, and boredom sets in. Many corporate leaders remain unaware of the risks of HIPAA non-compliance, but the Act includes a criminal statute that creates vast potential exposure for health care providers and other players in the health care "data trade."

Features

Cooperatives & Condominiums Image

Cooperatives & Condominiums

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Cases of importance to your practice.

Index Image

Index

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

A comprehensive list of key cases discussed in this issue.

Features

Real Property Law Image

Real Property Law

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Cases of importance to your practice.

Features

Development Image

Development

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Cases of importance to your practice.

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MOST POPULAR STORIES

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  • Abandoned and Unused Cables: A Hidden Liability Under the 2002 National Electric Code
    In an effort to minimize the release of toxic gasses from cables in the event of fire, the 2002 version of the National Electric Code ("NEC"), promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, sets forth new guidelines requiring that abandoned cables must be removed from buildings unless they are located in metal raceways or tagged "For Future Use." While the NEC is not, in itself, binding law, most jurisdictions in the United States adopt the NEC by reference in their state or local building and fire codes. Thus, noncompliance with the recent NEC guidelines will likely mean that a building is in violation of a building or fire code. If so, the building owner may also be in breach of agreements with tenants and lenders and may be jeopardizing its fire insurance coverage. Even in jurisdictions where the 2002 NEC has not been adopted, it may be argued that the guidelines represent the standard of reasonable care and could result in tort liability for the landlord if toxic gasses from abandoned cables are emitted in a fire. With these potential liabilities in mind, this article discusses: 1) how to address the abandoned wires and cables currently located within the risers, ceilings and other areas of properties, and 2) additional considerations in the placement and removal of telecommunications cables going forward.
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