Product Defect Liability Lawyer Blog

Consumer Reports has recently released an article about some defective products that are a cause for serious concern. According to the report, the products in question are the Perfect Flame grills sold at Lowe's. There have been three product recalls over the last three years involving these less than perfect grills. However, Consumer Reports is concerned that not enough owners are getting the message about these defective products that have the potential to cause property damage, catastrophic burn injuries or even death.

Consumer Reports states that each year, U.S. fire departments respond to nearly 2,000 grill fires. Some incidents occur due to improper use of the grills. Some are genuine accidents. But a lot of incidents can also be traced back to faulty design or manufacturing defects. A number of household appliances and products also malfunction because of substandard parts used by manufacturers to keep the prices low and profits high.

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A worker sustained job injuries after a tug that was pushing a Southwest Airlines plane at the Oakland International Airport, gave way. According to a KGO-TV news report, a bar connecting a tug to the 737 jet broke at it was pushing back. The tug then moved forward colliding with the plane's landing gear. The driver of the tug, which is the vehicle that pushes the plane, was trapped between the landing gear and the vehicle. He was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators are looking into whether there was some type of mechanical failure, operator error or both.

Continue reading "Worker Injured in Industrial Accident at Oakland Airport" »

Manuel Figueroa Moreno, 56, sustained fatal job injuries when his body became caught in a machine at the San Diego nursery where he was an employee. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the fatal industrial accident occurred the morning of July 27, 2010 at Evergreen Nursery on Oceanside Boulevard in Oceanside. Moreno was found by his supervisor with the right side of his torso and arm wedged into a conveyor belt of a composting machine. He had died at the scene.

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Baby Matters LLC has issued a defective product recall for 30,000 of their Nap Nanny portable baby recliners after the death of a 4-month-old. According to a Consumer Reports article, the recall was issued after one fatality report involving an infant who fell over the side of the Nap Nanny, became entrapped and died. The recall involves all Nap Nanny recliners sold between January 2009 and July 2010. The defective product was sold at children’s retail stores across the country for about $130.

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A California company is issuing a defective product recall for about 45,000 Karino Baby Pacifiers because they could present a choking hazard. According to an Associated Press news report, the recalled products, distributed by Antonio Flores in San Ysidro, California, were sold at independent grocery stores in California and Texas. The pacifiers were sold between October 2009 and March 2010 for about 25 cents.

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Tots in Mind Inc. has issued a defective product recall for about 20,000 Cozy Indoor Outdoor Portable Playard Tents Plus Cabana Kits after receiving a report of one child who became entrapped while trying to climb out, and died. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the clips that attach the tent to the top of the play yard can break or be removed by a child. The child can also lift the tent and become entrapped, posing a strangulation hazard.

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Car makers have a duty to produce cars and trucks that are crashworthy and safe to drive. The ideal would be for car makers to make cars with occupant safety in mind. This usually does not happen, though, because car makers are more concerned with their bottom line than with consumer protection.

In addition to the typical dangers involved with rollovers, rear end collisions, and side impacts, you can unknowingly be placing your family in serious danger just by driving down the road. Many steel-belted radial tires have failed and caused life-threatening injuries to vehicle occupants when the treads separate.

Continue reading "Tires are a Dangerous Product Used by All Car Companies in The U.S." »

Suntech Enterprises Inc, a Los Angeles area importer, has issued a defective product recall for 8,400 baby walkers. According to an Associated Press news report, the products were manufactured in China and imported by the company. Apparently, these baby walkers lack mechanisms to prevent babies from falling down the stairs. Also, these walkers can fit through standard doorways. Therefore, their size doesn't prevent them from entering rooms with stair access. So far no incidents have been reported in connection with these products. The walkers were sold at children's product stores in several states including California, New York and Texas from January 2007 through December 2009.

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Regal Lager Inc. has issued a defective product recall for about 3,000 CYBEX 2.GO infant carriers because of a fall hazard to children. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, a shoulder strap slider buckle can break, posing a fall hazard to babies. So far, the company has received three reports of broken buckles. No injuries have been reported yet in connection with these defective products.

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McDonald's along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a massive defective product recall for about 12 million collectible "Shrek" themed drinking glasses sold at the fast food chain restaurants because the glasses contain an unacceptable level of the toxic metal, cadmium. According to an Associated Press news report, the American-made glasses were sold for $2 each at McDonald's as part of a promotional campaign for the movie, "Shrek Forever After." CPSC officials say in their consumer alert that long-term exposure to cadmium can cause "adverse health effects." Cadmium is a known carcinogen, which can lead to serious health problems such as bone softening and kidney damage.

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The common-law tort system plays an absolutely essential role in spurring manufacturers to make their products safer. If the tort system is not allowed to operate with respect to products in general, then manufacturers will have far less incentive to improve the safety of their products. Such a result would pose a threat to the health and safety of every American. The following is a prime example of this principle at work.

Continue reading "U.S. Supreme Court to Decide Vaccine Injury Case" »

Maytag has issued a defective product recall for about 1.7 million dishwashers because of a possible fire hazard. According to an Associated Press news report, Whirlpool Corp. received 12 reports of electrical failures in the dishwasher heating element, which apparently led to the fires and damage. So far, no injuries have been reported. However, there was one report of a kitchen fire, which caused extensive property damage.

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Over the last two years, numerous defective product recalls have been issued for drop-side cribs in the United States. According to an Associated Press news report, since 2000, at least 32 infants have suffocated and died in products that have proven to be virtual death traps. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a safety alert for these types of cribs. Federal officials have also promised to come up with a regulation by the end of 2010 that will ban the manufacture and sale of drop-side cribs and come up with a new performance standard that would make fixed-side cribs mandatory.

Continue reading "Move to Ban Drop-Side Cribs Underway" »

Jammie Lavine, 22, was killed in a motorcycle accident after he lost control of his cycle and crashed on the Ortega Highway in Lake Elsinore, the morning of May 22, 2010. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal motorcycle crash occurred close to Grand Avenue. Lavine struck the guardrail and fell about 100 feet down a hillside next to the roadway. He was wearing a helmet, but sustained fatal injuries.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jammie Lavine for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

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The products liability lawyers at BISNAR | CHASE has recently received a complaint about an alleged toaster defect. A good samaritan wrote to us to warn other consumers of a toaster he believes is a dangerous and defective product sold at Walmart.

After buying the TS-704 toaster at Walmart, our source turned on the toaster. About a minute later he reached for the toaster with his right hand to shift the toaster's location. After grabbing the toaster by its white sides he released it as a result of the pain he felt from the shockingly hot metal. The burning sensation on his right palm lasted painfully for about 15-30 minutes.

Continue reading "Consumer Warning: Walmart's TS-704 Could Be Too Hot To Handle" »

Wal-Mart has issued a defective product recall for about 900,000 General Electric digital coffee makers because of their potential to overheat and cause a fire or serious burn injuries. According to an ABC News report, the recall involves black and white coffee makers with model numbers 169164 and 169165. GE is supporting Wal-Mart and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in this voluntary recall. The recalled coffee makers were sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide for about $30 each from March 2008 to January 2010.

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Commonly known as a cosmetic treatment, Botox is also used in other medical situations. Many believe Botox, known as botulinum toxin outside of cosmetics, is beneficial in the treatment of cerebral palsy and other conditions, though it is a powerful toxin and is not FDA approved for all uses. Certain cases have shown Botox treatments, used to treat muscle spasms, can lead to serious personal injury or even death.

Continue reading "Personal Injury Risks Exposed in Botox Treatments" »

The death of two children has led to a massive defective product recall of toy dart guns. According to a CBS News report, Family Dollar stores are issuing this product safety recall for 1.8 million dart guns along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Apparently the darts in these guns are small enough to get stuck in the throat and prevent a child from breathing. Desman Young, 10, of Wisconsin and another 9-year-old boy, both reportedly died of asphyxiation after swallowing the darts that came with the gun. In Desman's case he was playing with the toy gun during recess. He was chewing on a dart when it went down his throat. He was declared "brain dead" and died the following day at the hospital.

Continue reading "1.8 Million Dart Guns Recalled after Two Choking Deaths" »

Target is issuing a defective product recall for about 350,000 woven storage trunks that can pose a strangulation hazard to young children. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the lid of the trunk can drop suddenly when released posing a danger to small children who are opening or reaching into these trunks.

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Step2 has issued a defective product recall for about 2.5 million Plastic Buggies riding toys after receiving several reports of injuries due to the handles in these toys detaching. According to a Consumer Reports article, so far, the toy maker has received 28 reports of the handle detaching, all of which resulted in injuries to children. This product defect recall involves Push Around and Whisper Ride buggies.

The toys, which were manufactured in the United States, were sold at major retailers and specialty stores from August 1999 through March 2010 for between $29 and $59. Only buggies that have yellow plastic knobs are included in this recall. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is asking consumers who have these products at home to stop using them and contact the manufacturer for a free repair kit.

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