The April 2010 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall list includes products posing choking and strangulation risks, as well as others that can create fall, lead paint, laceration and drowning hazards.

These monthly government lists help protect the public by urging consumers to avoid using or purchasing various dangerous products. Our law firm recommends that you regularly review these lists before ever making a major purchase or buying anything for a child.

Part One of our April 2010 recalled products review focuses mainly on items posing choking and strangulation hazards, as well as others that can create laceration or fall risks.

Part Two of our April 2010 review looks at many other consumer items, including those posing fire and flammability risks, lead paint poisoning, drowning or other general injuries. Part Two concludes with a look at an important Consumer Product Safety Commission news item.

Products Posing Choking and Strangulation Hazards

• Deux par Deux Minimome Inc., of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is cooperating with the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission by recalling approximately 4,500 Children’s Snowsuits and Coats since both of these items employ drawstrings that can cause children to accidentally strangle themselves.
• 5 Star Apparel LLC, of New York, New York, has agreed to recall about 11,500 Mecca Children’s Hooded Jackets featuring drawstrings that put children at risk of strangulation.
• GJC International of Florida Inc., of Plantation, Florida is voluntarily recalling close to 3,200 Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts since their drawstrings can cause children to accidentally strangle themselves.
• Both the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada have asked Gund, of Edison, New Jersey, to voluntarily recall Gund Baby Paperboard Books (about 15,100 in the U. S. and 865 in Canada) since the book binding foam can become detached, placing young children at risk of choking on it.
• Oriental Furniture of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has agreed to recall about 25,000 Roman Shades and Roll-Up Blinds since both products pose strangulation hazards to children.

Product Recalls Due to Fall Risks

• Le Hing Inc., of South El Monte, California, has agreed to voluntarily recall about 200 Baby Walkers since they can subject babies to serious injuries or death if the walkers are moved through standard doorways toward stairways. The walkers are not designed to stops at the edge of staircases or steps.
• Civia Cycles, of Bloomington, Minnesota, has agreed to recall about 800 Hyland Bicycles and Carbon Bicycle Forks since they can break or crack, putting consumers at risk of falling.

A Product Posing Laceration Hazards

• Crate and Barrel, a division of Euromarket Designs Inc., of Northbrook, Illinois has agreed to recall 42,000 Glass Water Bottles in the U. S. (and 2,200 in Canada) that can break apart when their stoppers are being removed or inserted, creating laceration risks to users.

As already noted above, Part Two of this April review covers products that pose fire and flammability risks and others that can cause lead paint poisoning, drowning or other general injuries. Part Two concludes with a look at an important Consumer Product Safety Commission news item.

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Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

We posted recently about the potential for a forthcoming recall of baby carrier slings because of the dangers that have been presented in regards to carrying them.  Two weeks have passed since that initial report, but now comes word that approximately one million of these units have been recalled in the wake of growing reports of infant deaths as a result of using these products.

According to The Examiner:

“After the tragic death of a 6-day-old infant in Salem, Oregon and two other reports of infant deaths, 1 million Infantino Slingrider and Wendy Bellissimo infants sling have been recalled in the United States.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, all three infants died in 2009. Derrick Fowler was just six days old when he died on May 7, 2009 due to suffocation in the Infantino sling he was being carried in. His mother, Lisa Cochran, is suing the infant sling company for more than $4 million in damages.

Infantino is offering free replacements for Slingrider and Wendy Billissimo slings. The company has issued a statement which says in part, “At Infantino, our top priority is the safety of infants whose parents and caregivers use our products…”

The soft fabric of some infant slings that surrounds a small infant with little neck strength or control can be a dangerous combination. The CPSC reported that there have been 14 infant death related to sling type baby carriers. It is recommended that a baby’s face not be covered so it is visible while in the sling.”

If your child has been harmed by these or any other defective products, you need the help of Sacramento defective products lawyers who have years of experience in holding even large corporations accountable.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

It seems that over the past few months, more and more products intended for infants and small children have been recalled due to increasing safety concerns.  While it’s always advisable to err on the side of caution with these products, all of these recalls can lead to a decrease in the trust that consumers will place on almost any product of this kind.  Now comes word that an enormous recall of high chairs has been initiated.

According to WPTV in Florida:

“The government is announcing a recall of some 1.2 million high chairs, saying they pose a fall hazard to children.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the voluntary recall today involving a high chair made by Graco Children’s Products of Atlanta.

The regulatory agency says “screws holding the front legs of the high chair can loosen and fall out,” and says cracking plastic brackets can cause the high chair to “tip over unexpectedly.” Tip-overs have resulted in 24 reports of injuries including bumps and bruises to the head, a hairline fracture to the arm, and cuts, bumps and bruises and scratches to the body.

For more information visit the company’s web site at www.gracobaby.com.”

If you own one of these units, do not take this recall lightly.  Stop using the product and take steps to ensure the safety of your child.  If your child has been harmed by this or any other defective product, you need the help of Sacramento defective products lawyers who have years of experience in successfully fighting for the rights of consumers who have been wrongfully injured.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Products intended for use by and for infants tend to draw much attention from consumers, especially when a potential defect is discovered that could put children in positions of danger.  Several different products of this type have been recalled in the past year, and it now appears that another infant product could be joining that growing list – baby slings.  The reason appears to be risk of injury and even death.

According to the Examiner:

“According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, they are preparing to issue a warning about baby slings before the end of the week.

Baby slings are carriers that allow parents to keep their infants strapped close to their chest. Although they may look safe – they may not be.

According to Associated Press, these cuddly slings will soon be the subject of a government safety warning due to the fact that infants carried in these slings could potentially be suffocated.

According to Inez Tannenbaum, head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, they know of too many deaths in these slings and the hazard for very small babies is real.”

There have already been several recalls for these products by different companies, but if you are using one of them with your child, you should stop doing so immediately. If your child has suffered an injury because of one of these products and you need legal help, you need to contact the Sacramento defective products lawyers who understand what it takes to hold corporations of all sizes accountable for the harm they’ve caused.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Many of us have decided to save ourselves some time and purchase items from a grocery store deli that are already prepared.  Delis in supermarkets have become much more prevalent in recent years, and as a result of the increased demand from consumers there are many more choices available.  Unfortunately, one of those choices appears to be unsafe, as Safeway recalled potato salad due to concerns regarding salmonella.

According to the Associated Press:

“Safeway Inc. said Thursday it is voluntarily recalling potato salad products over concerns about possible salmonella contamination.

Safeway said the two red potato salad with dill products were sold in its deli department at Safeway, Vons, Pavilions and Carrs stores in 10 states in the West.

Customers who purchased the products are asked to discard them or return them for a refund.

Safeway said it is recalling the product after Reser’s Fine Foods, the source of the products, announced its own voluntary recall.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.”

There are innumerable different types of recalls, but food recalls are perhaps the most risky for consumers because of how quickly they tend to be eaten after purchase, particularly if those items are from the deli and ready to serve.  If you or someone you love has been harmed by defective food, you need the help of Sacramento defective products lawyers who have a long track record of holding even large corporations accountable for the harm they’ve caused.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Earlier this year, Daniele, Inc. recalled 1.2 million pounds of its salami products due to concerns that the batches affected by that recall contained salmonella.  Unfortunately, it appears that the original recall did not reach far enough to prevent additional safety concerns.  Now comes word that the company is expanding its recall by another 115,000 pounds of product.

According to the Providence Journal:

“The recall of salami products from the Burrillville-based Daniele Inc. has expanded to include 115,000 pounds of “Hot Salame Panino” products, now also linked to a nationwide outbreak of salmonella.

With the panini, the culprit may be crushed red pepper instead of the ground black pepper implicated in the previous recalls.

In January, Daniele recalled 1.2 million pounds of black-pepper-coated salami.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the recall Wednesday morning after it confirmed the presence of salmonella in an unopened package of Daniele panini. Further testing will determine whether the salmonella has the same genetic fingerprint as the bacteria involved in the outbreak, which has spread to 44 states.

The recalled panini were produced between Nov. 5 and Feb. 15 and have sell-by dates of Feb. 3 to May 26. They were distributed to stores nationwide. They come in the following labels and sizes:

•8-ounce packages of “Boar’s Head Salame Panino, Salame Rolled in Mozzarella Cheese.” UPC 042421160710

•8-ounce packages of “Daniele Italian Style Salame Panino, Hot Salame Rolled in Mozzarella Cheese.” UPC 736436809206

•Random-weight packages of “Daniele Italian Style Salame Panino, Hot Salame Rolled in Mozzarella Cheese.”

•8-ounce packages of “Dietz & Watson Artisan Collection Hot Salame Panino, Hot Salame Rolled in Mozzarella Cheese.” UPC 031506688041

•Daniele triple-pack Fresh Mozzarella Panino 24 oz. (1 Salame Hot — 1 Prosciutto Basil — 1 Capocollo Basil) UPC 736436709582

•Daniele triple pack Fresh Mozzarella Panino 24 oz. (2 Prosciutto — 1 Salame with basil) UPC 736436859324

Each package bears a label with establishment number “EST. 459” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The above products are sold individually packed, except as noted above.”

If you have any of these products in your home, do not use them and contact the company for a refund.  If you or someone you love has fallen ill as a result of using these or any other products, you need the help of Sacramento defective products attorneys who have years of experience in holding those accountable who release dangerous products onto the marketplace.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

For many years, the Chinese have been shipping consumer goods to the United States for many reasons.  On the consumer side, these products sold well because they did not cost as much as goods manufactured in the United States or in other countries.  However, that cost savings came with a risk – Chinese products were found to contain high amounts of lead that caused serious injuries.  One such product line that remains popular is children’s toys manufactured in China, and now comes word that in response to the lead concerns, Chinese manufacturers have allegedly replaced that toxin with another, that being cadmium.

According to an AP report published in the Sun-Sentinel in Florida:

“Federal and state watchdogs in the U.S. have opened a new front in the campaign to keep poisons out of Chinese imports, launching inquiries into high levels of cadmium in children’s jewelry while Walmart pulled many suspect items from its store shelves.

A day after The Associated Press documented the contamination in an investigative report, the top U.S. consumer safety regulator warned Asian manufacturers Monday not to substitute other toxins for lead in children’s charm bracelets and pendants.

Regulators and lawmakers reacted swiftly to the AP report, which found that some Chinese manufacturers have been using cadmium, sometimes at extraordinarily high levels. Congress clamped down on lead in those products in 2008, but cadmium is even more harmful.”

Direct exposure to cadmium can lead to cancer, kidney problems and brittle bones, and this could simply be the start of another drawn-out issue with China.  In the meantime, if you or someone you love has been harmed by exposure to this or any other toxic substance, you need the help of Sacramento defective products lawyers who understand how to handle the complicated nature of these sorts of claims.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

While coffee has been a veritable staple for millions of people for centuries, it’s only recently that the popularity of canned or bottled ‘energy drinks’ has exploded onto the market.  These drinks are taking the consumer market by storm, and they appear to be particularly popular with young people.  While the majority of those who use them do not encounter problems, there is growing concern among health officials that over-using these drinks can not only be harmful, but dangerous.

According to a report published by WPLG in Florida:

“Convenience stores are packed with products to give consumers a quick boost of caffeine.

The stimulant comes in all forms — from drinks to pills to sprays — and is available at almost all locations.But local health officials told KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City that having too much caffeine can be so serious that it requires a call to a poison-control line or a trip to the emergency room, especially for people younger than the age of 19.

Boston pediatrician Dr. John Cohen cautions parents and teenagers to know what they are putting in their bodies, because too much caffeine, he said, could get them into serious medical trouble.

“In my opinion,” Cohen said, “All this stuff should be pulled off the market.”

As would be expected, the American Beverage Association denied the risks involved with these drinks.  However, if you have been using these products, take some time to learn more about them so that you don’t encounter these problems.  If you have been harmed by any of these products, you need the help of Sacramento defective products attorneys who have years of experience in holding large corporations accountable.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

We’ve been posting recently in regards to several large recalls of products that were intended for use by children and infants, and all of these recalls has raised the level of concern by parents to previously unseen heights.  In response to the public outcry against the penetration of these defective child products on the market, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced new rules that are intended to improve the registration process and thereby ramp up the efficiency of future recalls.

According to a press release put out by the CPSC:

“The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on December 16, 2009 unanimously approved (5-0) a new rule requiring manufacturers of durable infant or toddler products to establish and maintain a registration card program.

As mandated by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) Sec. 104(d)(1), CPSC is issuing a final consumer product safety rule requiring each manufacturer of a durable infant or toddler product to: (1) provide a postage-paid consumer registration form with each product; (2) keep records of consumers who register their products with the manufacturer; and (3) permanently place the manufacturer’s name and contact information, model name and number, and the date of manufacture on each such product. The final rule specifies the text and format for the registration form and establishes requirements for registration through the internet.

This new rule affects 18 product categories: full-size cribs and nonfull-size cribs; toddler beds; high chairs, booster chairs, and hook-on chairs; bath seats; gates and other enclosures for confining a child; play yards; stationary activity centers; infant carriers; strollers; walkers; swings; bassinets and cradles; children’s folding chairs; changing tables; infant bouncers; infant bathtubs; portable toddler bed rails; and infant slings.”

While these rules could help improve overall safety, they will not release companies that introduce defective products to the market from liability.  If your child has been injured by such a product, you need the help of Sacramento defective products lawyers who have years of experience in successfully obtaining recoveries from those responsible for these injuries.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

The world is such now that many families have two working parents in order to live profitably and to properly support their children.  As such, parents are busier than ever before, which means that staying up-to-date on the unforeseen dangers that could affect them is very difficult.  These past few weeks have provided more background to that issue with the high number of products intended for children being recalled due to serious dangers they presented.  Unfortunately, many parents do not have the time to keep track of all of this news.

According to KVAL in Eugene, Oregon:

“So far this month, there have been a dozen safety recalls triggered by potential threats to kids.

Millions of shades and blinds that can strangle were recalled on Tuesday. Before that,choking hazards in books, strangulation hazard on hooded sweatshirts, a shock hazard with kids nightlights and flammable kids’ pajamas prompted recalls.

Now the Consumer Product Safety Commission says the painted logo in the insoles of kids Timberland boots have excessive levels of lead. The Classic Scuffproof Boots were sold nationwide this year for kids as young as one year old.

But with all these recalls, thousands of parents will never get the word and continue to use, share, sell and giveaway potentially dangerous products for years.”

The article goes on to state that parents should, “Make it a point to check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Web site frequently for both recalled toy and non-toy products.”

While this information is certainly invaluable, and our firm will continue to follow news regarding these safety issues, it’s not always enough to prevent harm.  If your child has been injured by a defective product, you need the help of Sacramento defective products lawyers who have years of experience in holding large corporations accountable for their injuries.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.