On September 16, 2020, Monoprice issued a recall for their Category 6 Ethernet Bulk CMR Communications Cables. According to the recall, recall number 20-184, the cables fail to meet the flammability requirements as set by the UL 1666 voluntary safety standard; therefore, the product represents a fire risk whenever it is exposed to flames. The recall has affected approximately 10,800 units of the product.
The recall specifically involves the Monoprice Category 6 Ethernet Bulk CMR Communications cable, which is designed to prevent fires from spreading between floors (through risers and vertical shafts). The products contain 100% pure copper wire and are typically used to wire homes or offices to allow them to have high-speed networks.
The recalled cables were available in a number of colors (including purple, pink, gray, orange, red, black, blue, white, and yellow). They were also available in a number of lengths, including 250, 500, and 1000-foot spools.
The cables have the following information printed on the surface:
- (UL) E467139 23AWGX4P CMR CAT6 UTP RoHS Compliance XXXXFT
- (UL) E333346 23AWGX4P CMR CAT6 UTP RoHS Compliance XXXXFT
- (UL) E339722 23AWGX4P CMR CAT6 UTP RoHS Compliance XXXXFT
The recalled ethernet cables were available online via www.monoprice.com as well as via www.amazon.com. They were available directly to consumers, to IT installation companies, construction companies, and other business. The products were available from December 2018 through February 2020 for prices ranging between $20 and $130 per box (strictly based on the cable length and color).
According to the company, no incidents or injuries have been reported associated with the defective product; however, it is possible that there have been unreported incidents.
The company is urging all affected consumers to immediately stop using the recalled ethernet cables and contact them to schedule a free installation visit to both inspect and replace the defective ethernet cable (at no charge to the consumer).
Did you unknowingly purchase the defective product? Did the defective product directly contribute to a fire, burn injuries, and property damage? If so, you should not simply agree to a free replacement of the ethernet cable. Instead, you should consider pursuing a personal injury claim against the company.
Based on the details surrounding the claim and the harm that you or a member of your family suffered, you might have grounds to file a product liability claim. If you are interested in learning more about your right to pursue a product liability claim against Monoprice for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered due to their defective product, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm as soon as possible.
At Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of claims; of course, this includes product liability claims. Our lawyers are dedicated to providing all affected parties with the guidance necessary to reach a successful outcome. Our defective product attorneys are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with the guidance that you need to reach a successful claim outcome. Contact our firm today to speak with our product liability lawyers.
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The Fire Risk Associated with the Defective Ethernet Cable
As explained above, the ethernet cables fail to meet the flammability standards. The cables are designed to help prevent the spread of fire between floors; therefore, because the ethernet cable does not meet flammability standards, it actually can increase the risk of spreading fire between floors. Without a doubt, fires can lead to significant property damage, which can result in tens of thousands of dollars in damages. Fires could also result in injuries, including burn injuries and smoke inhalation injuries. Burn injuries can range in severity, including first-degree, second-degree, third-degree, and so on. These injuries can result damage the skin, the nerves, the ligaments, the muscles, and even the bones, in some cases. Burn injuries are typically associated with the loss of function, loss of feeling, and even amputations. Burn injuries can also lead to chronic pain (as a result of severe nerve injuries). Smoke inhalation injuries can also be severe. Victims can suffer internal burns (respiratory injuries), oxygen deprivation, loss of consciousness, and brain damage; in many cases, smoke inhalation injuries can be fatal. Regardless of the harm that you or a member of your family suffered as a direct result of a defective product, you might have grounds to sue – you should explore the legal options available to you.
Understanding Product Liability
You might have grounds to pursue a claim based on the concept of product liability. Specifically, companies have a duty of care towards their consumers. That is, they have a duty to ensure that their products (the products that they make available to consumers) are completely free of any defects that could potentially harm consumers. To exercise this duty of care, companies must test and inspect their products thoroughly; doing so allows companies to identify (and address) any hazards or defect present in their products.
Although companies owe this duty of care towards their consumers, companies often breach their duty of care towards their consumers. More specifically, companies fail to test and inspect their products; they recklessly release defective products to consumers – and put them at risk of suffering harm. A breach of duty could lead to an incident, which could result in harm. Whenever the harm that a consumer suffers can be attributed to a company’s breach of duty, the company could be held liable.
What does this mean? Based on the concept of product liability, companies could be liable for the harm resulting from defective products. This means that affected consumers can sue these companies. If you would like to learn more about your right to sue Monoprice for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered associated with a defective product, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm as soon as possible.
What Should You Do?
If you or a member of your family suffered harm associated with a defective product, such as the defective ethernet cable recalled by Monoprice, there are many things that you should do to ensure that you can hold the company accountable. Consider some of the recommendations listed below:
- Seek medical assistance for all the harm resulting from the incident
- Take photos of all injuries resulting from the incident
- Take photos of the entire scene of the incident
- Take photos of the defective product
- Evaluate the property damage resulting from the incident
- Contact the company to report the defective product
- Do not agree to return the defective product under any circumstances
- Do not agree to a free repair
- Do not agree to a free replacement
- Do not agree to a free refund
- Speak to any witnesses (collect their contact information and take note of their testimonies)
- Gather all relevant medical records
- Gather all relevant property damage records
- Gather any records associated with any lost earnings (due to inability to work)
- Gather records related to the purchase of the defective product
- Seek legal assistance with an experienced attorney as soon as possible
Could You Recover Compensation?
Based on the details surrounding your product liability claim against Monoprice, you might be eligible to recover monetary compensation for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered. The specific type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive will depend on the facts surrounding your situation; therefore, it is best to speak with a product liability lawyer.
You could recover some of the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Punitive damages
If you are interested in learning more about the type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive if your claim is successful, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm as soon as possible. Our product liability lawyers are ready to aggressively fight for your right to receive the highest amount of compensation available for your claim.
File Your Claim Quickly – Understanding the Statute of Limitations
If you or a member of your family suffered harm associated with a defective product, you must act quickly – you must file your claim as soon as possible. This is because your claim is subject to a statute of limitations. What is a statute of limitations? How does a statute of limitations affect the time that you have to sue?
All claims are subject to a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations determines the specific length of time that you have to pursue your claim. If you fail to file your claim within the time allowed by the statute of limitations, you could lose your right to pursue a claim (and, of course, your right to recover any compensation).
How long do you have to file your claim? In general, product liability claims (filed in California) are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. This means that claimants only have two years to file their claims. However, it is possible for exceptions to apply, which can toll or pause the statute of limitations that applies to your claim. Because you can lose your right to sue, it is essential that you have a thorough understanding of the statute of limitations that applies to your claim. Do not hesitate to contact the experts at our firm as soon as possible to learn more about your right to sue.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Today
If you or a member of your family suffered harm associated with a defective product, you can trust the experts at Normandie Law Firm to provide you with the guidance that you need to reach a successful claim outcome. At our firm, our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of claims, including product liability claims. Our experts are not afraid to hold negligent companies accountable for the harm caused by their defective products. If you would like to discuss your claim with the experts at our firm, contact us today.
We offer free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During our free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer questions and address concerns. Our defective product attorneys will provide you with absolutely all the information necessary to reach a successful claim outcome. Would you like to benefit from our free legal services and speak with our lawyers? If so, contact our firm as soon as possible.
Our firm offers a Zero-Fee guarantee, meaning that our clients will not be required to pay anything for our legal services. Our firm is also based on contingency; therefore, our clients will not be required to pay anything until after reaching a successful claim outcome. You will not have to pay anything if you do not win.
Are you ready to speak with our attorneys about your Monoprice product liability claim? If so, contact our firm as soon as possible.
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