Ruoxi Cao

Ruoxi Cao is a product liability attorney at Pingliang Zongheng Law Firm with 10 years of experience representing consumers and businesses in claims involving defective products.

Practice Focus

Practice Focus He handles the full spectrum of product defect cases — design defects, manufacturing defects, and inadequate warnings or instructions — under Chinese law. Cao graduated from Renmin University of China Law School and has participated in product safety investigations commissioned by the Gansu Provincial Market Supervision Administration. A product is considered defective if it creates a risk to personal safety or property beyond what a reasonable consumer would expect. This strict liability standard makes China one of the more plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions for product claims, though the burden of proving the defect exists and that it caused the injury remains with the plaintiff. Article 1207 of the Civil Code introduces punitive damages for product liability cases where the manufacturer knowingly continued to produce or sell a defective product. Litigating a Defective Product Claim The plaintiff in a product defect case must establish (1) that the product was defective, (2) that the plaintiff suffered actual harm, and (3) that the defect caused the harm. Defense strategies in defective product cases include demonstrating compliance with mandatory GB standards, showing that the product was modified after sale, proving that the plaintiff misused the product, or establishing that the alleged defect did not cause the claimed injury. Where local counterparties rely on relationship pressure, I re-anchor discussions to contract text, statutory rights, and verifiable performance records. Working Method His experience on both sides of product liability disputes gives him a comprehensive perspective on defect litigation. The Civil Code Article 1202 establishes strict liability for defective products: the manufacturer bears liability for harm caused by a defective product regardless of whether the manufacturer was negligent. The court may award punitive damages of up to two times the actual losses suffered. This provision, added in the 2021 Civil Code, creates a strong deterrent against willful misconduct and has already influenced corporate behavior in the consumer goods sector. The court may also consult with technical experts from industry associations or research institutions. Comparative fault is recognized under Article 1173 of the Civil Code, which provides that the defendant's liability may be reduced if the plaintiff's own actions contributed to the harm.

Product liability in China follows the Tort Liability Law and Product Quality Law. Ruoxi Cao advises manufacturers, distributors, and consumers on defect claims, recall procedures, quality disputes, and liability insurance matters.

• ⚖️ Written scope and remedy map agreed before substantive work begins
• 📜 Bilingual document control with translation and verification plan
• 🛡️ Deadline and limitation tracking with clear escalation triggers
• 💼 Settlement and enforcement options evaluated in parallel

Foreign manufacturers selling products in China should maintain quality control records, establish product recall procedures, and ensure product liability insurance coverage meets local regulatory requirements.

Local Practice in Pingliang

Ruoxi Cao practices in Pingliang, Pingliang. Local administrative practice in Gansu can affect filing logistics even when national statutes are uniform. Ruoxi Cao monitors implementation details relevant to Defective Products matters and coordinates with notaries, translators, and technical experts when required. File management emphasizes version control for bilingual drafts and hearing calendars. Clients receive periodic status updates with deadlines and decision points requiring business instructions.

Ruoxi Cao does not promise case outcomes. The commitment is disciplined process, candid risk assessment, and advocacy within PRC law and professional rules. Fee arrangements and confidentiality boundaries are confirmed before substantive drafting. Clients receive periodic status updates with deadlines and decision points requiring business instructions.