Statutory Claims Against Manufacturers

When a dissatisfied consumer sues a manufacturer in Ontario, the unhappy consumer will frequently rely upon the Sale of Goods Act and the Consumer Protection Act, 2002.  However, neither statute applies if the consumer did not purchase the goods directly from the manufacturer.  In many cases, consumers are purchasing from retailers, not the original manufacturer.  I have defended many cases where there have actually been four degrees of separation between the plaintiff and the manufacturer.  For example, a homeowner hires a custom home builder, who in turn hires a sub-contractor to install a roof, who then purchases shingles from a local hardware store that is supplied by the shingle manufacturer.