Electronic devices are an everyday part of life for individuals throughout the nation. Accordingly, stores focused on such products have become quite popular and can be found many places including the Pittsburgh area. These businesses, which vary in size, carry such products as televisions, DVD players, cellphones, MP3 players and computers. As is possible with virtually any type of product, in some cases they may be defective.

In many instances a defective product just won’t work. While frustrating, a consumer is likely able to easily return or exchange such a product for one that works, without suffering any physical pain. Sometimes however, a product defect can inflict injury. A situation such as this one has prompted one business to recall batteries used with a popular laptop.

Big box retailer Best Buy recalled more than 5,000 MacBook Pro batteries earlier this week. The recall is the result of at least 13 instances of the battery starting on fire. One individual was reportedly burned on the leg when such an incident occurred. The ATG lithium-ion batteries involved in the recall were available for over three years starting in September 2008. Both the white and black versions are included in the recall.

The burn the consumer suffered as a result of the defective battery was described as serious. Though unclear, it is possible that person could decide to hold the retailer responsible for that injury by filing a products liability lawsuit against it. If successful, the injured person could receive monetary damages for the injury.

Source: Star Tribune, “Best Buy recalls 5,100 replacement batteries for MacBook Pro due to fire risk,” The Associated Press, June 19, 2013