Defective Products

Published on: December 21, 2020

Pomona Girl Rescued After Christmas Tree Catches Fire

By Brian Chase

An 8-year-old girl was rescued by firefighters from a Pomona home after a Christmas tree caught fire, trapping her in the bathroom of her family’s apartment. According to a KTLA news report, the fire broke out at the two-story apartment building, located at 1614 E. Kingsley Street. Los Angeles County firefighters responded to the fire and were notified that there was a person trapped inside. Continue reading →

Published on: July 8, 2013

Simi Valley July 4 Fireworks Show Injures 36

By Brian Chase

At least 36 people suffered injuries after a fireworks show went awry in Simi Valley, sending airborne pyrotechnics hurtling into crowds of spectators. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the incident occurred on July 4, 2013 when about 10,000 people were gathered at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park in Simi Valley to watch the Independence Day fireworks show. Officials say at least one pyrotechnic prematurely exploded in a mortar, causing a chain reaction that tipped over other fireworks and launched them into the crowd of spectators.

Victims ranging in age from 17 months to 71 years were transported to area hospitals. Twelve of the injured victims were children. Injuries included burns, shrapnel, trampling wounds and chest pains. Some also suffered lacerations and tinnitus or ringing in the ears. Officials said most victims were lucky that their injuries were not worse.
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Published on: January 8, 2013

CPSC Recalls Arctic Cat Snowmobiles

By Brian Chase

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall of 19,000 Arctic Cat snowmobiles due to a crash hazard. About 7,100 of the models in question were recalled in December of 2011 due to a headlamp fuse failure.

Arctic Cat, Inc., a company out of Thief River Falls, Minnesota, is cooperating with the recall after four reports of incidents stemming from a loosened tie-rod attachment. This issue can cause loss of steering control, leading to a crash.

So far, no injuries have been reported as a result of the failure, even in models in which users have experienced separation of the tie rod attachment. However, both Arctic Cat and the CPSC warn that the problem could have potentially dangerous results for users and those with these models are asked to cease use immediately and contact a local dealer for inspection and repair.

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Published on: December 27, 2012

Consumer Reports Designates Two Strollers as Dangerous Due to Strangulation Risk

By Brian Chase

Consumer Reports has put the “Do not Buy – Safety Risk” stamp on two stroller models – iCandy Cherry and the Mutsy Evo — because these pose a potential strangulation hazard to young children. According to Consumer reports, both these stroller models have a removable grab bar that attaches above the child’s legs. When a child is placed with the grab bar in its normal use position, the opening between the bar and the seat may be large enough to allow the child’s torso, but not the child’s head to pass through. As a result, the child’s head could get caught on the bar causing the child to potentially asphyxiate.

Consumer Reports states that this hazard, also known as “submarining” exists only when a child is not buckled up into the stroller. Between 1995 and 2008, at least 10 children were reported dead as a result of submarining in strollers. It is not clear if any of these fatalities involved the two stroller models in question. Consumer Reports suggests that anyone who owns these strollers remove the grab bars. The stroller is safe to use if the child is always harnessed. These stroller models have not yet been recalled and are still sold in the United States.

Injuries and Fatalities Caused by Nursery Products

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Published on: November 29, 2012

Watch Out for Dangerous Toys this Holiday Season

By Brian Chase

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group last week released its 27th annual Trouble in Toyland report, noting that there are still many toxic and dangerous toys on store shelves. Risks posed by these toys, according to a CNN news report, include choking, strangulation, lead poisoning and lacerations. The toy industry has, of course, flippantly referred to the group’s report as “needlessly frightening.” But hard numbers tell a different story. Over the years, the organization’s findings have led to more than 150 product defect recalls and other regulatory actions.
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Published on: November 15, 2012

Five-Hour Energy Drinks Linked to 13 Deaths

By Brian Chase

Federal government officials and the New York Attorney General’s office are investigating claims that the drink 5-Hour Energy led to 13 deaths and 33 hospitalizations over the last four years. According to an ABC news report, the popular energy shot, which comes in two-ounce packages and packs a powerful caffeine punch, is being linked to serious side effects and death. Researchers are particularly looking into the effects of using multiple cans of the drink at once. Each can is said to have the caffeine content of two cups of coffee.

This is the second time in one month that the Food and Drug Administration has singled out energy drinks. In October, Monster Energy was linked to five deaths. The manufacturers point out that these are just claims and allegations and that there are no proven links. Company officials maintain that their products are harmless and that there is no evidence to show that the drinks directly caused the deaths.
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Published on: October 19, 2012

Wheelchair Bound Woman Suffers Fatal Fall from Los Angeles Metro Escalator

By Brian Chase

A 64-year-old woman in a wheelchair died a day after she fell down an escalator at a Metro station. According to a KTLA news report, the incident occurred at the Hollywood/Highland Metro Red Line station on October 16, 2012. Officials say the elevator from the mezzanine area to the street level was not functioning, prompting the woman and her caregiver to take the escalator. Shortly afterward, the escalator malfunctioned sending both women tumbling backwards. The woman in the wheelchair suffered severe head trauma and died a day later. The 48-year-old caregiver suffered cuts and bruises, but is expected to recover. It is not clear if she will face charges in connection with the incident.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this woman who has been tragically killed here. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
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Published on: April 22, 2011

Studies Show Blood Clot Risk Higher with Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella

By Brian Chase

Two new studies show women who take birth control pills with the newer hormone, drospirenone, have a higher risk for developing potentially serious blood clots than women who take pills that have the older hormone levonorgestrel. According to a news report on WebMD, Women in the studies took oral contraceptives containing drospirenone such as Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, Gianvi and Zarah. These medications increased the risk of nonfatal blood clots by two to three times. Researchers say roughly one out of 10,000 women who take these pills for a year could develop a clot. So far, at least four other studies have linked the use of drospirenone-containing birth control pills to increased risk of pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis.

Bayer Disputes Studies

Bayer, the company which manufactures Yaz and Yasmin, maintains that these studies are flawed. They say that the risk of blood clots among women taking drospirenone-containing birth control pills is not much higher than those taking other birth control pills.

Company officials say that oral contraceptives like Yaz and Yasmin “are among the most widely studied and widely used prescription drugs on the planet.”
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Published on: July 26, 2010

Deepwater Horizon Alarm System Disabled Before Oil Rig Explosion

By Brian Chase

Michael Williams, chief electrician aboard the Deepwater Horizon, testified Friday at a federal hearing that one of the vessel’s critical alarm systems had been purposefully disabled before the oil rig explosion. The general alarm system about the Deepwater Horizon should have sounded an alarm warning offshore workers to move away from danger. However, the automatic system had been intentionally switched off because Transocean felt it was inconvenient. Turning off the automatic alarm required that the alarm had to be triggered manually if needed. Mr. Williams claims he told her Transocean superiors of his concerns about disabling the alarm.
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Published on: February 17, 2010

How Long Does a Products Liability Case Take?

By Brian Chase

Victims who have been injured from a defective product are well advised to seek the help of an experienced California products liability lawyer. The complexity of a defective product case will vary based on a number of factors.

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