PLAINTIFF LAWYER DOES IT AGAIN

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Products

More Drop-Side Cribs Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of more full-size and portable drop-side cribs due to the risk they pose to infants and toddlers. The cribs are manufactured by Generation 2 Worldwide "SafetyCraft," and the agency said the cribs can pose a strangulation and suffocation risk.  Janel Jacobs, Orlando Sentinel  02/04/2011

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Single-Dose Injections Recalled 

American Regent has initiated a recall of 10mL single-dose vials of Sodium Thiosulfate injections. The company issued the recall after it was discovered that some of the vials contained "visible particles consistent with glass delamination." If used, the doses can cause damage to blood vessels in the lungs.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  02/03/2011

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Ford Recalls 365,000 Trucks

Ford Motors has issued a recall of almost 365,000 F-150 trucks due to a problem with the doors. The company said the spring in the interior door handle could break, causing the doors to open during a crash. Ford says the recall affects about 280,000 F-150s in the United States for the 2009 and 2010 model years.  Staff Report, Kansas City Star  02/03/2011

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5,700 Convertible Irons Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 5,700 convertible clothes irons due to a fire hazard. The iron's manufacturer, Sunbeam Products Inc., said a wiring problem in the iron can cause it to overheat and pose a burn risk. The company has received 17 reports of irons overheating and three reports of irons catching on fire.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  02/03/2011

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AMAZIN HOW MANY BAD PRODUCTS THERE ARE OUT THERE

Products

Engines Recalled Due to Wiring Defects

An engine producer in Milwaukee has announced the recall of about 50 engines due to improper wiring in the products. The engines were used on Sears, Husqvarna and Bad Boy riding mowers. The company said that the wiring defects could cause the engine to continue running even with the key in the "Off" position.  Staff Report, United Press International  02/05/2011

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Medicine Tablets Recalled over Label Error

Qualitest Pharmaceuticals has issued a voluntary recall of their Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablets due to an incorrect label on one of the bottles. The labeling mistake, the company announced, may cause patients to unintentionally take the wrong medication, which could prove dangerous. No injuries have been reported as of yet.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  02/05/2011

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TODAYS CASES

Laws/Cases

Bank of America Settles Overdraft Fee Lawsuit

Bank of American has agreed to settle a $410 million lawsuit centered around alleged excessive overdraft fees. The original lawsuits claimed the bank would rank customer transactions from largest to smallest instead of chronological order, which maximized the amount of fees the bank could charge. Since the lawsuits were filed in 2009, Bank of America has changed their overdraft practices and lowered customer fees.  Jonathan Stempel, Reuters  02/05/2011

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Suit Filed over Gas Tax Refunds in Washington

Gas station owners in Washington state have filed a lawsuit against the state, claiming the state gave $90 million in fuel tax money to Indian tribes. The lawsuit claims the payments allow the tribes to sell gas at a cheaper price, creating unfair competition. The suit also claims the refunds are illegal themselves because they are refunds for taxes not actually paid.  Scott Gutierrez, Seattle Post-Intelligencer  02/06/2011

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Suit: Colorado Prison Guards Abused Inmates

Ten female prisoners in Colorado have filed a lawsuit against the state's Department of Corrections, claiming they were sexually abused by prison officers. The lawsuit claims the guards threatened to make life "more difficult" for the female prisoners if they did not submit. The suit also claims the department continued to employ officers "suspected of abuse and failed to improve surveillance systems to reduce blind spots."  John Ingold , Denver Post  02/07/2011

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Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Skydiving Company

The parents of a Tulare woman have filed a lawsuit against a local skydiving company who allegedly gave her a defective parachute that resulted in her death. According to the lawsuit, filed after the 2009 accident, claims the worn Velcro on the chute "failed to hold the parachute's steering handles in place, causing the parachute to spin after it opened." The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages for the death.  Lewis Griswold, San Jose Mercury News  01/27/2011

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Products

4,600 Playsets Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 4,600 Escalade Sports outdoor playsets due to the chance of the playsets breaking during use. Escalade announced that the swing seats on the equipment may crack and break, posing a risk to the user. The company has received 24 reports of seats breaking, but no injuries.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  02/08/2011

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Ground Beef Recalled in Southern California

The Department of Agriculture has announced a recall of 3,170 pounds of ground beef in Southern California due to the risk of E. coli. The beef was sold by American Food Service. The USDA has reported that there have been no illnesses associated with the contaminated meat.  Wire Report, Forbes  02/07/2011

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Laws/Cases

Lasko Electric Heaters Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 107,500 portable electric heaters due to a risk over overheating. The product's manufacturer, Lasko Products Inc., said an electrical connection "in the base of the unit can overheat, causing it to melt and expose the electrical connection." The company has received 18 reports of minor burns to floors but no reports of injuries.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  02/08/2011

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Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Prison Guards

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against a Tennessee prison warden and several guards over the death of an inmate. The suit claims the guards "held [the inmate] to the ground with a riot shield for more than 10 minutes" during an altercation. A medical report states the man died of "asphyxiation and suffocation" while being held down. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages.  Brian Haas, Tennessean  02/03/2011

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Settlement Reached in Trip-and-Fall Lawsuit

The city of Royal Oak, Mich., has agreed to an almost-$50,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed by a woman who tripped and fell on a residential sidewalk in July 2007. According to the lawsuit, the 79-year-old woman broke her foot after tripping on the sidewalk and claims the city was negligent in failing to properly maintain the area.  Wire Report, Detroit Free Press  02/08/2011

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Settlement Reached in Metro Bus Accident

King County in Washington has agreed to a $4.5 million settlement with a local woman who was hit by a Metro bus while using a crosswalk in 2008. The woman suffered a brain injury as well as a shattered arm when she was struck by the bus' mirror, her suit claimed, and she was forced to quit her job. County officials admitted to negligence and accepted responsibility for the accident, the Seattle Times reported.  Susan Gilmore, Seattle Times  02/04/2011

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Products

Hoover Recalls Vacuums Due to Electrical Problem

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 142,000 Hoover WindTunnel Canister Vacuums due to a faulty power cord that can short-circuit. The company reported that the power cord can pose a shock and fire risks to users, even when the vacuum has been turned off. Hoover has received 69 reports of electrical malfunctions including one minor injury.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  02/09/2011

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261,000 LED Night Lights Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 261,000 night lights due to an electrical short risk that can cause a fire. American Tack & Hardware Co. Inc. will recall its LED night lights, saying it has received 18 reports of the night lights smoking, burning, melting and/or charring and one minor injury.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  02/09/2011

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Ford Recalls Explorers to Fix Seats

Ford Motor Co. has announced the recall of about 1,600 newly-built Ford Explorers due to safety problems with the second-row seats. The company has announced that the seats may not provide the proper strength required by law in the event of a crash. The recall covers 2011-model year Explorers made between July and December of last year.  Staff Report, Reuters  02/07/2011

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Laws/Cases

Alabama Family Awarded $2.4 Million

An Alabama jury has awarded $2.4 million to a local mother whose 2-year-old child died in 2007 after ingesting methadone. The child was taken to the emergency room of Medical Center East in May 2007 after accidentally ingesting a methadone tablet. The suit claims the doctors negligently discharged the child after only a few hours of monitoring, and he died a few hours later. The emergency room doctor "failed to take the proper steps" to ensure the boy was healthy, the suit alleged.  Eric Velasco, The Birmingham News  02/08/2011

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S.C. Johnson's Greenlist Labels Deceptive, Suit Says

A lawsuit has been filed against the S.C. Johnson Corporation that alleges the company is deceiving customers by placing green labeling on its products. The "Greenlist" label leads customers to believe the product has been tested by a neutral party and found to be environmentally safe, the suit says. "Greenlist" is actually patented by S.C. Johnson, according to the suit.  Wire Report, Chicago Tribune  02/09/2011

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Suit Comes After Super Bowl Seat Fiasco

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the National Football League by 400 fans whose tickets were denied at the Super Bowl. The $5 million suit claims the fans, who had spent thousands of dollars on travel and tickets were denied their seats when they arrived at the game. The suit also represents a group of people who were moved to temporary metal seats with obstructed views after being promised much better seats.  Staff Report, Business Wire  02/08/2011

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Products

BioSan Recalls Food Lines with Undeclared Soy

BioSan Laboratories has announced a recall of their Essentialsâ„¢ and RightFoodsâ„¢ lines due to undeclared soy in the products. The undeclared soy can cause illness in people with soy allergies. The company has said, however, that they have received no reports of illnesses associated with their products.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  02/09/2011

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Suit: Denture Cream Caused Brain Damage

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Proctor & Gamble, makers of Fixodent denture cream, claiming the product makes users ill because of its high zinc content. Plaintiffs in the suit claim the cream has caused them neurological illnesses and limb numbness, among other things. The suit also claims there have been studies done linking denture users with neurological disease. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages.  Lindsay Goldwert , New York Daily News  02/09/2011

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Wrongful Death Suit Filed in Refinery Explosion

A group of Washington families have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a refinery company over an explosion at an oil refinery that killed six workers. The lawsuit accuses Tesoro Corp. of "failing to inspect decaying equipment and ignoring industry safety standards and federal laws governing refinery safety." The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages.  Wire Report, Seattle Times  02/09/2011

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Woman Died Because Power Shut Off, Suit Says

A New Hampshire man has filed a lawsuit against electricity provider National Grid after his wife died when the company shut off her power - and oxygen machine - last year. The lawsuit claimed the woman had a medical protection notice on her account to protect her from sudden power shutdowns. The suit accuses National Grid of "failure to provide reasonably safe, adequate, just and reasonable electrical service."  Kathy McCormack, Bloomberg  02/09/2011

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Settlement Reached in Death of Rikers Inmate

The city of New York has agreed to a $525,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed over the 2009 death of a man at Rikers Island prison. The cause of death, the medical examiner’s office said, was a liver laceration caused by blunt trauma to the torso. The suit accused correction officers of "failing to provide [the man] immediate medical attention after he was restrained by three officers." The man was allegedly beaten by officers and then placed in a holding cell by himself without being attended to by the prison doctor.  Daniel Edward Rosen, The New York Times  02/09/2011

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Woman Fired over Facebook Comments Settles Suit

A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit filed over the firing of a woman who criticized her supervisor on Facebook. The woman was fired last year by ambulance company American Medical Response. The suit claims the woman's opinions expressed on Facebook were protected under federal law and that her firing was a violation of the First Amendment. The terms of the settlement were undisclosed.  Nathan Olivarez-Giles, LA Times  02/07/2011

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Suit Settled in Death of California Firefighter

A $4.6 million settlement has been reached in a lawsuit filed by the family of one of the firefighters that died in a 2007 house fire in Contra Costa County, Calif. The lawsuit alleged two security companies "mishandled" reporting the fire, which allowed it to increase in severity before firefighters were dispatched. The fire killed four people - two firefighters and two of the home's occupants.  Henry K. Lee, San Francisco Chronicle  02/09/2011

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Products

Newborn Mittens Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 4,700 newborn mittens due to a choking hazard posed by decorative pieces on the mittens. The company that produces the mittens, Nurses Choice Corp., said "decorations on the mittens can be pulled off, posing a choking hazard." The company has received one report of decorations falling off the mittens, but no injuries have occurred.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  02/15/2011

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Johnson & Johnson Recalls Syringes

Johnson and Johnson (J&J) has announced a recall of 70,000 syringes of its antipsychotic drug Invega Sustenna. The company announced the recall after it was discovered that the syringes may have cracks. The crack could be completely covered by the label on the syringe and would therefore be invisible to the user. J&J said they have not received any reports of illness or infection regarding the syringes.  Wire Report, LA Times  02/15/2011

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Nearly 800,000 Child Car Seats Recalled

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall of almost 800,000 child seats because the harness may not effectively protect the child. The child seats were made by the Dorel Juvenile Group and were sold under the brand names Safety 1st, Maxi-Cosi, Cosco and Eddie Bauer. Last year the NHTSA received reports that the restraining straps on the seats had loosened during travel.  Christopher Jensen, The New York Times  02/14/2011

Read Article: The New York Times