MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2004 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A
By: Representative Mims
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 11-1-64, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE PROTECTION FOR INNOCENT SELLERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 11-1-64, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
11-1-64. (1) In any civil action alleging damages caused by a product, a product seller other than a manufacturer shall not be liable for a latent defect if the seller is a mere conduit who purchased the product from a reputable manufacturer. It is the intent of this section to insulate innocent sellers who are not actively negligent from forum-driven lawsuits.
(2) A product seller shall not be considered to have failed to exercise reasonable care with respect to a product, based upon an alleged failure to inspect the product, if there was no reasonable opportunity to inspect the product; or the inspection, in the exercise of reasonable care, would not have revealed that the product was defective.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to eliminate any common law defense to an action for damages caused by a product.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004, and shall apply to all causes of action filed on or after that date.