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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 45
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to consumer protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Creates the fair accountability in retail act
In Assembly Committee · Economic Development · Sponsor Robin Schimminger
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S6510
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to creating the "fair accountability in retail act"
Purpose
This bill amends the General Business Law to protect retailers from being included in product liability lawsuits if they are not liable. If they are found liable, they would be required to pay the percentage of the claim for which they were determined to be liable.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Fair Accountability in Retail Act".
Section 2: Amends the General Business Law to state that a retailer shall not be held liable for a product unless they are the manufacturer of the product, or participated in the product's design, assisted with the installation of the product, or altered the product. If a claimant proves negligence on any of the non-sale activities, the retailer's liability shall be limited to that portion of said negligence.
Section 3: Effective date.
Justification
This legislation would reform product liability litigation so that retailers are held accountable for their own liability. Under the current system, small retailers and innocent sellers are unfairly being swept into lawsuits and being asked to shoulder an unfair and unsustain- able burden. A retailer that is included in a product liability lawsuit may be forced to pay the entire settlement, even if they are only found liable for a small portion of the claim. This legislation allows for fair accountability and liability and creates a level playing field where those that are found to be liable must pay, and those that are innocent gain relief.
Legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None to the State
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.