An Act relative to protecting innocent sellers

This bill creates a new legal chapter in Massachusetts to protect non-manufacturing sellers, such as retailers and distributors, from being held liable for defective products they did not make. It establishes a mandatory duty for manufacturers to cover the costs, including legal fees, that sellers incur when defending against lawsuits over product defects, provided the seller did not intentionally alter the item. Additionally, the law limits seller liability to specific situations, such as when they designed the product, modified it, gave incorrect instructions, or knew about a defect before selling it. By shifting the financial burden of product liability claims to manufacturers, the legislation aims to ensure that innocent sellers are not unfairly penalized for injuries caused by faulty goods.