Legal Definitions - standard characteristics

Standard characteristics refer to the typical, expected, and essential features or qualities that define a particular type of item, service, or category. These are the baseline attributes that a reasonable person would anticipate finding, allowing something to be recognized as belonging to its class or fulfilling its intended purpose. In legal contexts, these characteristics often form the basis for determining whether a product is fit for its ordinary use, a service meets professional expectations, or a description accurately represents what is being offered.

Here are some examples illustrating standard characteristics:

• Example 1: Consumer Product

  When purchasing a new refrigerator, its standard characteristics would include the ability to cool food to a safe temperature, a functioning freezer compartment, and doors that seal properly. If a consumer buys a refrigerator that fails to maintain a cold temperature, it lacks a fundamental standard characteristic. This deficiency would likely allow the consumer to return the product or demand a repair under warranty or consumer protection laws, as it does not meet the basic expectations for a refrigerator.

• Example 2: Professional Service

  For a professional accounting service preparing tax returns, a standard characteristic is the accurate calculation of taxes owed or refunded, based on the information provided by the client and current tax laws. If an accountant makes a significant mathematical error or misapplies a common tax rule, leading to penalties for the client, the service has failed to meet this standard characteristic. The client might then have grounds to seek compensation for the penalties and any additional costs incurred due to the accountant's oversight.

• Example 3: Software Application

  A word processing software application's standard characteristics include the ability to create, edit, save, and print documents, as well as basic formatting options like bolding or italicizing text. If a user purchases such software and finds that the "save" function consistently crashes, preventing documents from being stored, it lacks a crucial standard characteristic. This defect would typically entitle the user to a refund or a working replacement, as the software does not perform its fundamental, expected functions.