Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Sealed-Container Rule: This is a rule that says if a seller gets a product from a manufacturer and sells it without knowing there is something wrong with it, they are not responsible if the product turns out to be defective. Basically, if the seller didn't know about the problem and didn't have a chance to check the product, they can't be blamed for any harm it causes.
The sealed-container rule is a principle in products liability law that states a seller is not responsible for a defective product if they received it from the manufacturer and sold it without knowing about the defect or having a reasonable opportunity to inspect the product.
For example, if a grocery store sells a can of soup that was manufactured by a third-party company, and the can is found to have a piece of metal inside that causes injury to the consumer, the grocery store may not be held liable if they had no knowledge of the defect and no opportunity to inspect the can before selling it.
Another example could be a car dealership selling a car that was manufactured with a faulty airbag. If the dealership had no knowledge of the defect and no opportunity to inspect the car before selling it, they may not be held liable for any injuries caused by the faulty airbag.
The sealed-container rule is designed to protect sellers from liability when they have no control over the manufacturing process and no way to detect defects in the products they sell.