Technology has made it easier than ever for companies to connect users directly with providers of goods and services. This trend allows these “middle man economy” companies to—at least theoretically—book profits while mitigating the liabilities that had historically come part-in-parcel with their businesses. 2020 will be an important year for courts as they determine whether companies will be able to rely on these innovative business models to avoid traditional liabilities.
Take Amazon. The company offers fulfillment services in which third-party vendors ship goods to Amazon warehouses where they are stored until a customer purchases them. Amazon facilitates the sale ...