Ventura Personal Injury Lawyer - Defective & Dangerous Products

Durabrand DVD Players Recalled By Wal-Mart

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:34:00 GMT

Wal-Mart Stores, in conjunction with the CPSC, announced a voluntary recall of 4.2 million Durabrand DVD Players because they can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard.

On August 20, 1.5 million silver Durabrand DVD Players were recalled.

To this date, there have been 14 reports of the recalled DVDs overheating, seven of which resulted in fires that caused property damage.

The recalled DVDs were sold in pink, purple and silver. The following UPC codes and model numbers are involved in the recall:

Silver: UPC 1799901002, Model No. 1002

Pink: UPC 1799934100, Model No. 1002 PINK

Purple: UPC 1799932100, Model No. 1002 PUR

Consumers should stop using the recalled DVDs and return it to the nearest Wal-Mart for a refund.

Consumer Information: Contact Wal-Mart Stores at (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit www.walmartstores.com

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Risk of Strangulation Prompts California Company to Recall Blinds

James Cool — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:01:43 GMT

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that California-based retailer Cost Plus World Market has recalled more than 692,000 of its roman shades and roll-up blinds in response to strangulation concerns posed by the product.

The voluntary recall was prompted by the discovery that the looped cord used to operate the blinds posed a strangulation hazard to young children. The CPSC recommends that customers using either the "Canvas Roman Shade," or the "Buddha or Floral Matchstick Blinds" discontinue use immediately and return the items to the nearest Cost-Plus for a full-refund.

Go to www.cpsc.govor call 800-638-2772 for recall details and SKU numbers. The products were sold between February 2006 and August 2008.

To date, the CPSC has not reported any deaths or injuries related to these particular blinds. However, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that the CPSC has previously recorded three deaths involving small children in connection with faulty/defective blind cords.

If your child has been injured by these blinds or any other, please contact an attorney as soon as possible. Even if the injury was not within the past few months, it is critical that you speak with an attorney to determine your rights. Oftentimes, products are not discovered to be defective until after a tragedy occurs.

For advice about injuries related to any product, please feel free to continue browsing Injuryboard.com or to visit www.rkmlaw.net.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by James Cool

Herbal Supplements May Not Be All the Label Claims...

James Cool — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:47:54 GMT

It is that time of year where many of us turn to herbal supplements, either to care for lingering colds or to care for lingering pounds after the holidays. But just before the year ended, the FDA recalled a number of products that it determined were no longer fit for consumption. Many of these products were herbal supplements, which unlike drugs that the FDA approves, do not have to meet stringent requirements in order to be placed for sale. Many of the herbal supplements recently recalled by the FDA were sold by Herbal Science International, Inc. The recall was initiated because many of the products include ingredients that were not listed on the label. Other supplements were shown to contain ephedra, aristolochic acid, or human placenta – all which may present a serious health hazard to consumers. Along with the recall, the FDA issued reminders to consumers that over the counter supplements for health, cold care, or weight loss, are often not FDA approved. The recall of Herbal Science International’s products were conducted even though no reports of harm had occurred. The potential for illness or severe side effects, however, prompted the recall.

Another familiar supplement, Airborne, continues to be available in stores. While it has not been subject to a recall, consumers may be interested to learn that the product’s labels can no longer proclaim that it prevents or lessens the severity of colds. The company recently settled a lawsuit with 33 attorney generals who claimed that the Airborne company greatly over-exaggerated its ability to fight colds. The $7 million settlement includes funds ear-marked for consumer education related to supplements. Such education may include the fact that any product cannot make claims about the ability of that product –whether scientifically substantiated or otherwise – unless or until the FDA agrees. Such claims include “take at the first sign of cold symptoms” or others that imply that Airborne can prevent colds.

As with any product, research can help to provide consumers with additional information and possibly allow them to protect themselves. If you feel that you’ve been seriously injured by a product or supplement that you’ve been taking, and you’d like to know your rights, you may wish to speak with a products liability attorney.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by James Cool

Warnings about Dangerous Baby Cribs Should have Come Sooner N.Y. Mom Says

William Grewe — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:26:47 GMT

The Chicago Tribune has been out front on the subject of defective cribs continuing to spotlight the subject following a Pulitizer Prize winning series on dangerous cribs and dangerous toys in 2007. Continuing on from an October story which was linked-to here at that time, the Tribune now reports on a pattern of warnings preceding more recent fatalities which could or should have been recognized and addressed earlier. One mother whose child died in 2004 while using a Delta Enterprises crib --subject of an August 2008 recall-- says in the story that kids who died after her son might have been protected from harm if her child's death had sparked action. It is telling.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by William Grewe

DISTRIBUTOR OF DEFECTIVE BABY CRIBS LAX ILLINOIS AG CHARGES

William Grewe — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:15:06 GMT

The distributor of Simplicity brand baby cribs/bassinets has not done enough to protect consumers from its defective product, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has alleged in a lawsuit. Multiple major retailers agreed to stop the sale of the dangerous bassinets it was announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in August 2008 but the State of Illinois says the distributor could see that more is done to protect its residents. Madigan has called for, in part, the publication of notice to consumers in newspapers. The products continued to be sold after a recall, she said in a statement. Madigan was critical of the federal government for not doing enough to protect against the hazard, which poses a risk of serious injury or wrongful death. Indeed, if consumers are to be made aware of, and recognize, the risk that the drop side of these cribs can come off its track creating a gap which is large enough to act as a suffocation trap, notice in newspapers would seem appropriate. Cribs are often handed-down, donated or sold at a yard sale. A notice in the paper might alert a parent to the risk that the faulty side piece is more than a nuisance, it is a silent killer.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by William Grewe

Yamaha Recalls Snowmobiles Because of Problem With Steering

Jenny Albano — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:34:05 GMT

Yamaha, in conjunction with the CPSC, is recalling about 5.700 2007 Model Year PZ50 Snowmobiles because snow and ice can get stuck around the steering idler arm and can cause a loss of steering ability. This poses a risk of injury or even death to drivers and passengers if an accident occurs.

This recall involves all model year 2007 PZ50 snowmobiles, including PZ50W (Phazer), PZ50FXW (Phazer FX), PZ50GTW (Phazer GT), PZ50MW (Phazer Mountain Lite), and PZ50VTW (Venture Lite) model snowmobiles.

So far there have been no injuries reported to Yamaha or the CPSC. The snowmobiles were available in Yamaha stores nationwide from June 2006 to September 2007 and were manufactured in Japan.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano