Toyota Motor Corp. has issued an auto product defect recall for 2.3 million vehicles because their gas pedals can stick, causing sudden or unintended acceleration. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, this recall is separate from the Japanese auto maker’s earlier recall of 4.3 million vehicles to prevent gas pedal entrapment by the floor mats. That was also said to have caused unintended or sudden acceleration. The most recent recall issued this week involves eight Toyota models including the popular Corolla and Camry models. Toyota officials are saying that they received several complaints from consumers about accelerator pedals that remained depressed. They are calling it a “mechanical problem.”
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Graco has issued a defective product recall for about 1.5 million strollers after the children’s products manufacturer received several reports of children’s finger tips getting cut off by stroller hinges. According to an Associated Press news report, Graco has received seven reports of children placing their fingers in the stroller’s canopy hinge as it was being opened or closed. Of those cases, five children had their finger tips severed while two children sustained cuts on their finger tips.
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The California personal injury lawyers of BISNAR | CHASE have recently filed a products liability injury lawsuit against Pepsico, Inc., The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc., Metal Container Corporation and New Albertson’s, Inc.

The product liability injury lawsuit arises from serious injuries sustained by Lynda Ryan when she opened a can of Diet Pepsi. Ms. Ryan had been storing a 12-pack of Diet Pepsi, purchased from an Albertson’s retail outlet in Blythe, California, in an ice chest in the back of her car. She had consumed most of the beverages over a period of days without incident or reason to believe there was anything wrong with any of the cans.
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Chrysler has issued an auto product defect recall for several vehicle models because of a potential defect in the brake system that could result in sudden brake failure. According to a Reuters news report, the recall involves 2010 model year Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger and Nitro as well as Jeep Liberty, Commander, Grand Cherokee SUVs and 2009-2010 model year Dodge Ram trucks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in some of the vehicles, “the clip retention tab on the brake pedal was improperly formed or not installed during the manufacturing process.” This manufacturing defect could result in sudden brake failure and could cause a car accident. The auto maker says there have been no reports of injuries or accidents relating to these auto product defects.
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A California meat packing company has recalled about 864,000 pounds of beef products over food poisoning concerns, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website. Huntington Meat Packing Inc. of Montebello, California, issued the recall over fears that the products may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced this week. The problem was apparently discovered during a food safety assessment that was done by FSIS personnel. The recalled products were produced at the Los Angeles-area plant from January 5, 2010 to January 15, 2010. USDA has classified this as a “Class I” recall, which means that the risk of contamination and illness is high.

Each of the recalled boxes of beef has the establishment number “EST. 17967.” The products were apparently shipped to several distribution centers, restaurants and hotels in California. So far, federal officials have not received any reports of illnesses associated with this batch of recalled meat.
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Two men, identified as 22-year-old John Kaminski and Truman Charles Switzer, 24, were killed in a Ford Bronco rollover accident in San Bernardino County the morning of January 17, 2010, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports. The driver of a 1991 Ford Bronco was going south on I Avenue in Hesperia, when he lost control near Alston Avenue. Police said the Bronco rolled over at least three times. Kaminski and Switzer, who were sitting in the back of the Bronco, died at the scene. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials said Kaminski was wearing a seatbelt, but that Switzer was not buckled up. Switzer was ejected from the vehicle. The condition or extent of injuries suffered by the driver and front passenger is not yet known.

My heart goes out to the families of Kaminski and Switzer for their tragic and untimely losses. I offer my deepest condolences to these grieving families. They will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.
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E. coli-contaminated beef, which was recalled in December over food poisoning concerns, has sickened 21 people in 16 states including California, according to a news article in Consumer Reports. Out of the 21 food poisoning victims, nine have been hospitalized and there is at least one reported case of hemolytic uremic syndrome or HUS, a dangerous condition that could lead to kidney damage or even death.
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Sagittarius Sporting Goods is issuing a defective product recall for about 10,000 Master Forge five-burner gas grills that were sold at Lowe’s stores nationwide. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the flexible rubber hose on the LP gas tank on these grills can come into contact with the burner box, causing the hose to melt and rupture, when the grill is hot. This poses a fire hazard with a serious risk of burn injuries. So far, the company has received two complaints of the hose melting and rupturing but, no injuries have yet been reported due to this product defect.
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Frankie G. Hill, 46, was killed in a Riverside car accident after the vehicle she was driving struck another pickup truck on the Ortega Highway the afternoon of January 13, 2010. According to a news report in The Desert Sun, Hill was driving a pickup when the vehicle crossed the double yellow lines on a curve and went right into the path of the other vehicle, near Grand Avenue. California Highway Patrol officials said Hill was trapped in her vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other pickup was treated and released from a local hospital. His passenger was hospitalized with serious injuries.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Hill for their devastating loss. I also hope the two injured victims, especially the more seriously injured passenger, will make a quick and complete recovery. Please keep these victims and their families in your prayers.
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The California auto defects lawyers of BISNAR | CHASE recently filed a products liability injury lawsuit against Nissan Motor Co., LTD., Nissan North America, Inc., Nissan Design America, Ikeda Engineering, Vintec Co., Johnson Controls and Autoliv Safety Technology.

The auto products liability injury lawsuit arises from injuries sustained by Jaklin Mikhil Romine from an October 2006 rear-end crash where her defective seatback collapsed.

Jaklin was stopped at an intersection in Pasadena, California when her car was impacted from behind. Jaklin’s seat broke, collapsing backwards, causing her body to be flung from under her seatbelt and shoulder restraints, propelling her head to strike the rear passenger seatback. The defective seatback did not function to protect her properly as she sustained catastrophic and severe head and spinal injuries resulting in permanent incomplete quadriplegia.
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