Re: Diagnostics

On Fri, 18 Oct 2024 21:05:14 -0700, Don Y
<blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:

In the US, ANYTHING can result in a lawsuit.

Yes.

But, "due diligence" can insulate the manufacturer, to some extent.
No one ever *admits* to "doing a bad job".

Actually due diligence /can't/ insulate a manufacturer if the issue
goes to trial. Members of a jury may feel sorry for the litigant(s),
or conclude that the manufacturer can afford whatever they award ...
or maybe they just don't like the manufacturer's lawyer.

Unlike judges, juries do /not/ have to justify their decisions,
Moreover, in some US juridictions, the decision of a civil case need
not be unanimous but only that of a quorum.

If your doorbell malfunctions, what "damages" are you going
to claim?  If your garage door doesn't open when commanded?
If your yard doesn't get watered?  If you weren't promptly
notified that the mail had just been delivered?  Or, that
the compressor in the freezer had failed and your foodstuffs
had spoiled, as a result?
>
The costs of litigation are reasonably high.  Lawyers want
to see the LIKELIHOOD of a big payout before entertaining
such litigation.

So they created the "class action", where all the litigants
individually may have very small claims, but when put together the
total becomes significant.