Alpharetta Personal Injury Attorney Blog

554,000 Recalled LED Light Bulbs Sold Nationwide

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on one brand of popular LED light bulbs on March 19, 2013. The recalled light bulbs are 6, 8, or 9 watt LED bulbs sold under the names Definity, EcoSmart, Sylvania, and Westinghouse. About 554,000 light bulbs are affected by the recall. A detailed description of the recalled LED light bulbs along with the list of serial numbers involved can be found on the CPSC website.

The problem with the recalled LED light bulbs, according to the CDC, is that they can overheat and pose a fire hazard. So far there have been 68 reports of incidents of these light bulbs failing with some of the reports indicating there was fire damage to rugs/carpets, floors, circuitry, and a lamp. So far, fire & smoke damage has been limited and there have been no personal injuries reported. If you have any of the recalled LED light bulbs you are advised to remove them immediately and contact the Light Science Group for replacement light bulbs.

The Light Science Group of Satellite Beach, Florida is the importer of the recalled LED light bulbs which are manufactured in China although a small number of these bulbs undergo a final assembly in Mexico and Florida.

Defective Light Bulbs Pose a Serious Risk of Personal Injury

There has been a big push in the last few years to change out the ordinary incandescent bulbs we have used for generations since Edison developed the first commercially viable light bulb. The push has been on for a money saving light bulb that would use less electricity, give good lighting and would have a longer life. Now days we are able to choose between halogen, CFL's, and LED light bulbs. Each type of bulb has its pros and cons depending upon the type of light we want or need, price, and cost of use.

Continue reading "LED Light bulbs Recalled After Reports of Fire Damage to Homes" »

Going about our daily routines, most Americans would not think twice about the safety of many of the items they use daily to accomplish simple tasks in their homes. One of these items would be the simple step stool used to reach items which are just out of reach in the kitchen or other areas of the home and garage. Unfortunately there are a number of recalls every year for step stools and ladders which are recalled for having caused serious injury from falls. The falls were caused because the step stools or ladders had design flaws or were constructed of materials which were defective and did not meet the requirements demanded of the product.

CPSC Recalls Defective Step Stool After Reports of Injuries

The Consumer Product and Safety Commission and Cramer LLC released an announcement on February 14, 2013 of another unsafe step stool that is being recalled. It is the Task*It 1-Up folding step stool and it has already been responsible for 14 reported falls due to the step stool developing cracks and breaking.

Of the reported injuries, 2 were serious and involved head, neck and back pain. The Task*It 1-Up step stool is not very high off the ground, only 11 ½ inches high, but even short falls can present a significant danger, especially for older and more fragile individuals.

Cramer LLC produced about 6,500 of these Task*It 1-Up step stools and they were sold between January 2012 and December 2012 in stores like SP Richards, United Stationers, and Staples nationwide. They were also sold online at Amazon. These step stools were gray plastic and according to the USPC have 9.5 by 14.5 top step with two of its 11.5 in legs that fold inward for easy storage. The top step has black rubber tread with an asterisk symbol and the Task*It name is on the legs. If you have one of these step stools the CPSC says you should stop using it immediately and contact Cramer LLC to obtain a free replacement stool.

Falls Are the Most Common Cause of Traumatic Brain Injuries

According to a report by the Center For Disease Control in Atlanta, falls can cause moderate to severe injuries such as hip fractures and head injuries especially to older adults and can also increase the risk of early death to these individuals. Falls are the most common cause of serious brain injuries with traumatic brain injuries accountable for 46% of fatal falls in older adults. Although our older family members are more vulnerable to injury from falls, no one is immune and even younger people can suffer broken bones and head injuries, especially if they fall into or onto another hard object or floor.

Continue reading "Defective Step Stool Recalled by the CPSC for Causing Fall Injuries" »

Dangerous Children's Products Found in Many Retail & Thrift Stores

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and many other organizations across the nations work diligently to help identify products, warn consumers and remove unsafe and dangerous children's products from the marketplace. Every year many children are seriously injured and some die because of poorly designed and tested children's products and toys or items which turn out to be defective or have some ingredient, like lead paint, which is harmful to babies and small children.

Kids in Danger released a report on February 13, 2013 about children's product recalls in 2012. They found that although there was a decline of product recalls in 2012 there was a rise in injuries and deaths. Some of the findings in the report included information such as;

• 1/3 of recalls were for nursery products for the most vulnerable - infants and toddlers
• There were 1,232 reported incidents from one item, The Flexible Flyer Swing Set, before consumers were alerted
• 8 children & 1 adult died from dangerous products such as the Nap Nanny, Chill Infant Recliners, crib tents, travel beds, strollers and an inflatable water slide before they were recalled.
• Sleep products seem to pose the highest risk hazard and were associated with 7 deaths
• The CPSC collected over $3 million dollars in fines from companies who violated safety standards and failed to report hazards

Some Manufacturers Continue to Ignore Safety Standards for Children's Products

Manufacturers continue to make products which violate well-established safety standards, according to the report by Kids in Danger. These violations include clothing not adhering to flammability standards, parts that are too small, products containing lead paint, and drawstrings on clothing known for years to cause a strangulation hazard and specifically prohibited by the CPSC.

Additionally there are many unsafe and dangerous children's products in thrift stores and re-sale shops. Many of these children's products, which were handed down and donated over the years, do not meet current safety standards for children's products or toys. They may contain lead or other dangerous chemicals and/or have defective designs or defective materials. The CPSC says that it is against the law for anyone, including thrift stores and re-sale shops to sell any unsafe or dangerous products which have been recalled.

Continue reading "Dangerous Children's Products Still in Marketplace Despite New Safety Regulations" »

16 Cases of Salmonella Food Poisoning Reported Across 5 States

The FDA issued 2 separate press releases on January 25, 2013 announcing over one thousand pounds of recalled ground beef which is believed to have been the source of at least 16 cases of food poisoning from Salmonella contamination. The Salmonella outbreak has caused sickness spread over 5 states.

The likely source of the Salmonella contamination was traced to 2 different retail stores in Michigan; Jouni Meats in Sterling Heights and Gab Halal Foods in Troy, Michigan. Of the 16 cases, 7 of the people sickened reported that they had eaten kibbeth at a Michigan restaurant but the other 9 people were from Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa and had no association with that restaurant. The FDA Food Safety Inspection Service did DNA testing on the infected people and confirmed that all of them were infected with the same strain of Salmonella.

The people who became ill reported the onset of their illnesses from December 9 through January 7. It is important to note that symptoms of Salmonella infection can take as long as 2 to 3 weeks for people to report from when the first symptoms appear. The most common symptoms of Salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever and can last from 5 to 7 days. Most healthy individuals can withstand a case of food poisoning, albeit they are sick and very uncomfortable. But infants, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems (those with HIV, organ transplants, chemotherapy patients, etc.) are more likely to become seriously ill and are at risk of dying.

Two of the Salmonella Food Poisoning Victims Have Retained a Personal Injury Attorney

So far no one who was infected from the Salmonella tainted ground beef has died. Two of the food poisoning victims, Mary Ann Thomas of Sterling Heights, Michigan and her sister required hospitalization after they had eaten kibbeh which they thought had been made with raw lamb. According to coverage in the New York Daily News, after becoming ill they discovered that the kibbeh had been made with the uncooked Salmonella tainted ground beef. They have sought the services of a personal injury attorney and are seeking damages.

Continue reading "Salmonella Scare Prompts FDA Recall of Over One Thousand Pounds of Ground Beef" »

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was prescribed from the 1940s up to early 1970 for conditions such as prostate and breast cancer. It was also prescribed for pregnant women because physicians at the time believed that it could help prevent premature deliveries and miscarriages. It was discovered in early 1970 that it was the cause of a rare vaginal tumor in girls and women whose mothers had taken the drug years earlier. Sadly it is now known that DES did nothing to prevent premature delivery or miscarriage.

The Federal Drug Administration instructed doctors to stop prescribing it to pregnant women in 1971 but use of the drug was not banned. In some cases doctors still prescribed it for other conditions and sometimes for pregnancy complications and it continued to be used for many years until September 2000 when the FDA withdrew its use on humans. The use of DES in veterinary medicine is still used successfully today to treat incontinence in dogs.

Even though it was withdrawn from use for pregnant women decades ago, it appears this drug has had long ranging affects even down to the third generation of the children whose mothers had taken the drug during pregnancy.

CDC Estimates 5 to 10 Million Exposed to DES Between 1938 and 1971

The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta believes that 5 to 10 million people were exposed to DES between 1938 and 1971. When the drug was developed it was not patented and many different companies produced it including Eli Lily. It was not long before product liability lawsuits began to be filed against the manufacturers of DES beginning in the 1970s. Because this drug has apparently caused serious injury to the health of the children & grandchildren, both women and men, of the mothers who had originally taken the drug, lawsuits are even today underway across this nation against the manufacturers of DES.

Just this month 4 sisters who all suffered from breast cancer as a result of their mother's use of DES won a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Boston against Eli Lily for an undisclosed amount. The Washington Post story on the lawsuit indicated that there are 51other women from around the country who have filed DES liability lawsuits in Boston aimed at more than a dozen other DES manufacturers. They believe that the Eli Lily settlement may be instrumental in bringing about settlements in these other cases.

Continue reading "Decades of Product Liability Injuries Follows Use of the Prescription Drug DES From the 1940s" »

Over the last couple of years there have been a number of severe injuries to young children that were caused by toys called Buckyballs. Buckyballs are small but very strong magnetic balls, packaged in groups of 10 to 216 balls, which are intended to be desk toys for adults but are sold in toys stores and have often fallen into the hands of young children. On July 30, 2012 it was reported by the ABA Journal that the Consumer Product Safety Commission had decided to file a federal lawsuit against the manufacturer of these toys to stop their sale which is an unusual move on the part of the CPSC.

The CPSC had asked the manufacturer to recall these magnetic toys because they believe they "pose a grave danger to children." Other groups and many parents have also been calling for the toy to be removed from the marketplace but despite all these efforts Maxfield & Oberton, the manufacturer, has refused to recall them.

What Makes These small Magnetic Toys Dangerous?

It is natural for small children to put things in their mouths and when they do these items are often swallowed. Small items can usually pass through their system and out the other end. So why is there a problem with these very tiny magnets? The danger of swallowing these small magnets is that they stick together because of their powerful magnetic attraction to each other and sections of tissue/intestine get pinched between them. This can cause injury to the stomach and intestines by causing ulceration and/or perforation to the tissues. In some cases it can cause intestinal blockage or twisting of the intestines. Internal injury caused by these small magnetic toys has been responsible for serious injury to a number of small children over the past few years. Some of these children became severely ill with pain and infections and required hospitalization and surgery to remove the magnets, repair the internal injuries, and treat the infections which in some cases were life threatening.

Pediatric Society 2012 Survey On Magnet Ingestions

The North American Society For Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatolory & Nutrition estimates that half of the magnet ingestions by children requires surgery and about a third involve bowl perforations. Among a survey of just their members in spring 2012 which covered cases over the last 2 years, it was reported there were 60 magnet ingestions which caused 23 bowel perforations and required 26 surgeries.

A 22 month old toddler from Mississippi had an encounter with Buckyballs that resulted in a life changing injury. After extensive medical treatment and 3 surgeries he has been left with only 4-6 inches of healthy small intestine after a large area of dead bowl had to be removed. He must now receive his nutrition intravenously and will likely need a future intestinal transplant in order to eat normally again. Cases of serious injury caused by Buckyballs and other dangerous products happen every year in the United States. When serious injury occurs, victims of dangerous products can be sent scrambling for help from personal injury attorneys to get help in obtaining compensation for all of the medical bills and pain & suffering.

Continue reading "CPSC Suing Manufacturer Of Buckyballs Adult Toys Causing Product Liability And Endangering Young Children" »

Consumers in our country have an expectation that the food they purchase is safe to eat. The United States Department of Agriculture oversees a food safety and inspection service to help protect the public health. They keep tabs on our nation's supply of eggs, meat, and poultry products to ensure they are safe and correctly packaged and labeled. When they find a safety problem with food packaging, labeling, or contamination, the USDA will announce a recall and inform consumers about the problem. A recent recall of ready-to-eat food products that may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes has put the public at risk of contracting listeria which can cause sickness and even life threatening illness in many people.

The United States Department of Agriculture & The Flying Food Group of Lawrenceville, Georgia first announced this recall on several of their ready-to-eat chicken products on July 19, 2012 after the USDA found listeria contamination while testing several of their food samples. Since that time the USDA announced an expanded recall on July 26, 2012 to include ready-to-eat chicken, turkey, beef, and pork products by 6,901 additional pounds.

The ready-to-eat food involved in the recall was distributed to Starbucks, RaceTrac and other retailers in Georgia, Alabama & Florida. Products included in the recall include:

• Starbucks Chipolte Chicken Wraps Bistro Box, 8.4oz.
• Starbucks Chicken & Hummus Bistro Box, 6.3oz
• Starbucks Salumi & Cheesse Bistro Box, 4,6oz
• Starbucks Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Bistro Box, 7.3oz
• RaceTrac Turkey Wrap, 9.75oz
• RaceTrac Chicken Caesar Salad, 10.3oz
• RaceTrac Chicken Caesar Wrap, 7.88oz
• Race Trac Cobb Salad, 9.8oz
• F&L CAFÉ Salad Chicken Caesar Salad, 6.4oz
• F&L CAFÉ Salad Chef Salad, 6.9oz

The USDA has classified this as a Class 1 recall meaning, "that it is a health hazard in which it is probable that using these recalled food products will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death." People who have suffered from food poisoning know how sick even a normally healthy person can get. If you or a family member has suffered serious food poisoning you should consult with a Georgia food poisoning attorney to see if you may be due compensation for financial loss and pain and suffering.

Continue reading "Food Poisoning Traced To Georgia Company Puts Consumers At Risk For Contracting Listeriosis At Starbucks & Other Food Retailers" »

Kolcraft Contours Tandem Strollers Recalled Due To Fall and Choking Hazard

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released two recall reports on July 25, 2012 for two different baby strollers. One stroller is made by Kolcraft and involves their Contours Tandem strollers. This stroller has a problem with its front wheel assembly which may cause it to break and allow a child in the stroller to fall. In addition some of the strollers basket supports have nuts and screws which can detach and present a choking hazard.

Of these Contour Tandem strollers, 5,600 have been sold between February 2012 and July 2012 at Burlington Coat Factory, other children's specialty stores nationwide, online at Amazon.com, Target.com, and other online retailers. So far there have been 6 reports of the front wheels breaking and 2 reports of detached nuts & screws. Although no child has been injured the potential for serious injury has prompted the recall.

Peg Perego Venezia & Pliko-P3 Strollers Recalled Due To Strangulation & Entrapment Hazard

The second CPSC recall involves those strollers made by Peg Perego and is for 2 different older versions of their Venezia and Pliko-P3 strollers. These Peg Perego strollers were sold between January 2004 and September 2007. Because these strollers have been out for many years it is believed there may be as many as 223,000 of them still in use. The design of the stroller tray and seat can allow younger infants heads and shoulders to become entrapped and expose them to possible strangulation. According to the recall notice, "only those strollers which have a one-cup holder are part of this recall. Strollers which have a bumper bar and/or 2 cup holders are not part of the recall."

Continue reading "Baby Strollers Recalled - Poor Designs Leading To Product Liability " »