Find a defective product lawyer in Phoenix: what to keep and where to file
Keep the product exactly as it is, because it is your main evidence. Arizona product claims generally must be filed within 2 years. A case can be filed in Maricopa County Superior Court at 201 W. Jefferson. After a fire, get the investigation report from Phoenix Police Public Records at (602) 534-1127.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (26)
What should I keep after a defective product hurt me in Phoenix?
- Get care first, and tell the doctor what product caused the injury.
- Put the product somewhere safe and untouched, with all its parts.
- Photograph it before anything changes. Include the model and serial number.
- Save the box, the receipt and any manual or online order.
- Do not hand it to the store or an insurance adjuster without keeping proof and a lawyer's advice.
- Report the hazard on SaferProducts.gov. A parent or family member may report it.
A product caused a fire at my Phoenix home. What now?
Fire is a big part of this category. It is listed first among recent recall hazards. In Phoenix, fire investigators try to find the origin and cause and to identify what was responsible. That report can show whether a battery, charger or appliance started it.
The report is not where you might look. Phoenix Fire no longer keeps fire investigation reports. Ask Phoenix Police Public Records at (602) 534-1127 or through its online portal. Phoenix Fire also publishes battery incident reports on its data page, which can help show a pattern.
Tell your insurance company not to dispose of the burned product. Scene evidence can be lost in days when repair crews arrive.
Who can I sue for a defective product in Phoenix?
| Who | Why they may owe you | Arizona rule |
|---|---|---|
| The maker | It designed or built the product | Arizona product law covers any action against a maker or seller for injury from a product |
| The store or online seller | It sold the product | Sellers are covered, and the maker often must cover the seller |
| Parts or component makers | A bad part caused the failure | Each defendant pays only its own share |
That last rule matters. Arizona divides money by percentage, so leaving out a responsible company can leave part of your loss unpaid. Your own share of fault lowers an award but does not end it.
What will the company argue in an Arizona product case?
- Someone changed the product after sale in a way the maker could not foresee. Do not modify it now.
- The design met the state of the art when it was first sold.
- It met government standards, which can limit punitive damages.
- You used it wrong. Keep the manual and show how you used it.
Arizona's constitution bars caps on injury damages. No one can promise a number, and these cases often need paid engineers to test the product.
Where do I file a product lawsuit in Phoenix?
| Court | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Justice court | Small claims up to $5,000, civil up to $10,000 | 26 precincts in the county |
| Superior Court | Larger claims. Cases under $50,000 go to compulsory arbitration | 201 W. Jefferson St. or 18380 N. 40th St., Suite 120 |
| Federal court | Often when the company is from another state | 401 W. Washington St., Phoenix Division |
If you file without a lawyer, e-filing in civil cases is optional. Product cases are hard to run alone, so a first talk with a lawyer is worth it.
How long do I have to file a product claim in Phoenix?
Generally two years. Arizona's statute still mentions a 12-year cutoff, but the state supreme court struck it down. A child's time usually waits until 18. A separate consumer fraud claim is shorter. It must be brought within one year. The Attorney General takes complaints about deceptive sales, which can run alongside an injury claim but will not pay for it.
What should I ask a defective product lawyer in Phoenix?
- Who will store and test the product, and who pays for it?
- Are there other injury reports or recalls for this model?
- Which companies should I name so that no share goes unpaid?
- Could this go to federal court?
Questions
How long do I have to sue over a defective product in Arizona?
Generally 2 years. The old 12-year cutoff was struck down.
Can I sue the store that sold it?
Often yes. Arizona product law covers sellers, and the maker may have to cover the seller's costs.
Where do I get a Phoenix fire investigation report?
From Phoenix Police Public Records, (602) 534-1127.
Does a recall have to exist before I can sue?
No. A safety report is not a recall, and a recall is not required for a claim. Report the hazard anyway.
Defective product in Phoenix? See if you are owed money.
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See if I’m owed moneySources (26)
- A.R.S. 12-551, checked 2026-11-09. “shall be commenced and prosecuted within the period prescribed in section 12-542”
- A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”
- Clerk of the Superior Court, Maricopa County, checked 2026-11-09. “18380 N. 40th St., Suite 120 (Phoenix location)”
- Phoenix Fire Department, checked 2026-11-09. “Fire Investigation Reports are no longer maintained at the Phoenix Fire Department. Please contact Phoenix Police Department Public Records and Services Unit at: (602) 534-1127”
- SaferProducts.gov, checked 2026-11-09. “SaferProducts.gov is the CPSC-owned website where the public can file and read safety-related complaints about consumer products”
- SaferProducts.gov FAQ, checked 2026-11-09. “family members, relatives, parents, guardians, friends”
- A.R.S. 12-681, checked 2026-11-09. “means any action brought against a manufacturer or seller of a product for damages for bodily injury, death or property damage”
- A.R.S. 12-684, checked 2026-11-09. “the manufacturer shall indemnify the seller for any judgment rendered against the seller”
- CPSC, checked 2026-11-09. “Fire - Use of the product may lead to a fire”
- Phoenix Fire Department, checked 2026-11-09. “to attempt to determine the origin and cause of fires and to identify factors or persons responsible for causing a specific fire.”
- Phoenix Fire Department, checked 2026-11-09. “Find battery incident reports from the Phoenix Fire Department”
- A.R.S. 12-2506, checked 2026-11-09. “the liability of each defendant for damages is several only and is not joint”
- A.R.S. § 12-2505, checked 2026-11-08. “the claimant's action is not barred, but the full damages shall be reduced in proportion to the relative degree of the claimant's fault”
- A.R.S. 12-683, checked 2026-11-09. “an alteration or modification of the product that was not reasonably foreseeable”
- A.R.S. 12-683, checked 2026-11-09. “conformed with the state of the art at the time the product was first sold”
- A.R.S. 12-689, checked 2026-11-09. “is not liable for exemplary or punitive damages if any of the following applies”
- Arizona Constitution, art. 18, sec. 6, checked 2026-11-09. “the amount recovered shall not be subject to any statutory limitation”
- Maricopa County Justice Courts, About, checked 2026-11-08. “small claims up to $5,000, and civil lawsuits for amounts up to $10,000”
- Maricopa County Superior Court, Compulsory Arbitration, checked 2026-11-08. “Compulsory Arbitration is a mandatory program for disputes valued under $50,000.”
- U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, checked 2026-11-09. “401 W. Washington St., Suite 130, SPC 1 Phoenix, AZ 85003-2118”
- U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, checked 2026-11-09. “The Phoenix Division is comprised of the following counties: Maricopa, Pinal, Yuma, La Paz and Gila.”
- Clerk of the Superior Court, Maricopa County, checked 2026-11-09. “eFiling in civil and tax cases is optional for self-represented litigants.”
- Arizona Supreme Court, Cronin v. Sheldon (1999), checked 2026-11-09. “Hazine declared unconstitutional the same statute of repose that Bryant upheld”
- A.R.S. § 12-502, checked 2026-11-08. “the period of such disability shall not be deemed a portion of the period limited for commencement of the action”
- Arizona Attorney General, checked 2026-11-09. “A private citizen may also bring an action for a violation of the Consumer Fraud Act within one year from the date the claim arises.”
- Arizona Attorney General, checked 2026-11-09. “investigates consumer complaints involving deceptive or unfair practices in the sale or advertisement of goods or services.”