South Carolina Personal Injury Blog - recall

Baby Einstein Videos Recalled

Pete Strom — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:01:59 GMT

Baby Einstein, with its vibrant colors and soothing music, is common place in households with small children. Contrary to what the name implies and despite the soothing classical music played throughout the videos, Baby Einstein will not make your children any smarter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yd1YckwpKI

Responding to allegations of deceptive marketing concerning its educational nature, the Baby Einstein company is voluntarily recalling all videos purchased between June 5, 2004 and September 4, 2009.

If you purchased a Baby Einstein video during this time period, you are eligible to receive up to four refunds in the amount of $15.99 per video, a Baby Einstein Music CD, or a 25% off coupon for one Little Einstein product at the Disney Store.

Strom Law Firm is a personal injury and criminal defense law firm centrally located in Columbia, South Carolina. Our firm proudly handles personal injury, criminal defense, defective products, class actions, pharmaceutical liability, toxic torts, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, workers compensation, social security, veteran's benefits, qui tam, predatory lending, tax investigations, business litigation, and wills and estates. Our lawyers proudly edit the Columbia, South Carolina Injury Board as well as the Strom Law Blog as a pro bono effort to provide the public valuable information. Our lawyers are licensed in: South Carolina, New York, and Georgia

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Pete Strom

Toyota Announces Recall of Floor Mats That May Jam Accelerators

Will Parker — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:28:08 GMT

USA Today, in an article by Chris Woodyard, reported that Toyota said Tuesday it intends to recall 3.8 million vehicle floor mats due to a flaw that may cause accelerators to become jammed. The federal government reported at least 102 drivers have reported jammed accelerators in late-model Toyota and Lexus models.

The recall was likely the result of an accident on Aug. 28 in which four were killed in a Lexus driven by an off-duty California Highway Patrol

In a disturbing 911 call, the doomed passengers indicated the accelerator was stuck and that they were unable to turn the engine off. The vehicle was traveling at an estimated speed of 120 mph. The Lexus was a dealer service loaner that could have possibly had mats from another model.

The California accident "was certainly an eye opener for all of us," said Irv Miller, a vice president of Toyota's United States sales operation.

Toyota asked owners to remove all driver's side mats. The company's spokesman, John Hanson has also stated replacing the mats with a paper mat could actually be worse as it could slide or jam. Toyota is working on a replacement mat or other solution.

The government issued a statement that thirteen crashes and five deaths were likely caused by the defect.

For the full article:

USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2009-09-29-toyota-floor-mats-recall_N.htm

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Will Parker

Injuries and Deaths Lead to Cribs Recalls

Will Parker — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:09:18 GMT

Certain cribs are going to the crypt. Simplicity Inc. is now out of business. As of July 12, 2009 at least 13 children have died in cribs and basinets recalled by Simplicity. Considering the popularity of drop-side cribs, it is vital to get the warning out about drop-side crib related product recalls.

While cribs are often thought of as a safety zone for our children, federal regulators have become more and more alarmed by the safety problems related to cribs, causing millions of cribs to be recalled. According to federal records, more than 4.6 million cribs have been recalled since 2007. The Simplicity drop-side crib happens to be one of several on the list. In order to address the suffocation dangers of Simplicity’s drop-side cribs, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a product recall. According to federal officials, the risk of suffocation comes from the product’s ability to break or deform, which creates a death trap between the crib’s drop side and the mattress. In an effort to reduce injury and death, the CSPC is trying to reach consumers, day care providers, thrift stores, and online sellers to inform them to either discontinue use or stop selling this product. Unfortunately, product recalls only go so far. Many individuals never receive information about the risk associated with a product. In light of today’s economy, getting these warnings out becomes even more vital. Many people receive hand-me-down cribs, furniture, and child-related products.

While only 13 deaths have been reported in relation to Simplicity, dozens of deaths have been associated with drop-side cribs in the past few years. The most common problems with cribs today are:

1-Drop sides of the crib don’t stay on their tracks, creating a dangerous gap: Also, safety pegs create a problem. When the drop-side fails to miss these safety pegs it creates a dangerous risk along the drop side. Often, the reassembly of these cribs (whether someone moves, or passes the crib on to a friend) is finished without the safety pegs.

2-Mattress support failures; A dangerous gap can also result from mattress support failures, which can entrap the child and suffocate him/her. For example, Stork Craft cribs have been recalled due to fact that their metal mattress support brackets can crack and break.

3-Vertical slats/spindles on cribs can become broken, resulting in gaps where babies can get stuck: For example, cribs produced by Jardine Enterprises have been recalled three times due to the dangers presented by broken slats. The CPSC received more than 90 reports associated with this issue.

While the federal government makes an effort to regulate cribs, their requirements are somewhat bare-bones. In fact, most of the safety standards placed on crib manufacturers are voluntary ones that have been developed by ASTM International. And the only benefit from complying with these “voluntary standards” is that the crib manufacturer gets to place a JPMA, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, seal on their cribs. The ASTM International, which is a nonprofit manufacturing standards organization, plans to hold a meeting on July 21 to discuss crib safety. They are considering a proposal that aims to eliminate the manufacture of drop-side cribs. The effort to eliminate drop-side cribs from the market stems from the belief that there is no “fix” for the problem.

It is important to remember that just because a product is on the market it does not mean that it is safe. Parents should make a strong effort to keep themselves informed of product recalls. Even before product recalls are issued, parents should make their own evaluation of a product’s potential hazards. Don't forget, product recalls are issued on the basis of reported injuries and death. Stay alert as to known risks and potential problems when it comes to the products you allow your child to play with, sleep in, or be around.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Will Parker

Iovate Pulls Hydroxycut Off Shelves After Death of Young Man

Lauren Decker — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:35:40 GMT

If you’re like me, you may remember the first time you saw a Hydroxycut commercial on television – a blonde vision of beauty rising out of a pool, claiming that she was able to lose weight easily by just swallowing a little pill. I remember thinking to myself, “that seems to good to be true – there must be some kind of catch.”

Predictably, the Food and Drug Administration has recently confirmed there is a HUGE catch to Hydroxycut – liver damage. The FDA recently issued a recall for Hydroxycut products, manufactured and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., and urged consumers to immediately stop using the popular weight loss pill.

Adverse effects of Hydroxycut products include various levels of liver damage that range from elevated liver enzymes to damage serious enough to require a liver transplant. Signs of liver damage include jaundice, yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes, brown urine, nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, excessive fatigue, weakness, stomach or abdominal pain, itching, and loss of appetite.

The recall came after 23 reports of serious injuries and the death of a 19-year-old man in 2007, which shockingly wasn’t reported to the FDA until March of this year.

Dr. Linda Katz, Interim Chief Medical Officer of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, urges consumers to “discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risks. Adverse events are rare, but exist. Consumers should consult a physician or other health care professional if they experience symptoms possibly associated with these products.”

According to the FDA, although serious liver damage is rare, patients who experience these symptoms took the dosage recommended on the product’s label.

Just last year, Iovate sold more than 9 million units of Hydroxycut products, distributed mainly to grocery stores, pharmacies, and health food stores.

Because Hydroxycut products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts, the FDA has yet to determine the cause of the liver problems. But one thing that we have learned from this and other recalls is, if a weight loss drug seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Lauren Decker

Yamaha Rhino Recall - Models 450 and 660

Will Parker — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:23:44 GMT

Yesterday the Associated Press reported all Yamaha Rhino 450 and 660 model vehicles were recalled for repairs designed to prevent accidents resulting in 46 deaths and hundreds of injuries between the fall of 2003, when the vehicles were first distributed, through the present.

More than two-thirds of the incidents were rollovers. According to the CPSC many of the incidents involved turns on level ground at relatively slow speeds. A number of incidents did involve riders not wearing safety belts.

The repairs are designed to reduce rollover risk, as well as to improve handling and keep riders’ limbs inside the vehicles.

Rhino 450 and 660 owners should stop using these vehicles and call their local dealer to schedule an appointment for repairs.

Sales of these vehicles have been suspended to conduct repairs. This represents the first government recall of this category of rv. If you or anyone you know has been injured as a result of one these models, feel free to contact us at any time.

For more detailed information, you may contact Yamaha at 800-962-7926.

SOURCE: The Associated Press

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Will Parker

Trampolines Recalled By Aviva Sports Due to Fall Hazard

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:19:00 GMT

Aviva Sports, Inc. in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling 14,000 Aviva Leaps and Bounds Folding Trampolines with Safety Pad (L&B) and Aviva Pirate Jump ‘N Play Trampolines (Pirate).

The support legs on the trampolines can bend and/or break posing a fall hazard to consumers.

To date, the company has received 24 reports of incidents in which the legs on the frame of the trampoline have bent or broke and three reports of injury.

Two different trampolines are included in the recall:

Leaps & Bounds Trampoline – model number 12731

Pirate Jump & Play Trampoline – model number 0840525

Consumers are advised to stop using the recalled trampolines immediately and to contact the company for instructions on how to return the trampoline and receive a refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Aviva Sports at (888) 352-9763 anytime Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.aviva-trampoline-recall.com

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

ETHEX Recalls Continue

Amanda Wick — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:24:49 GMT

ETHEX CORPORATION and KV Pharmaceuticals Continuously Expand List of Recalled Drugs

If you've been watching the news or FDA recalls list lately, a name that pops up over and over again is ETHEX Corporation. Over the past several months, Ther-Rx Corporation and ETHEX Corporation, subsidiaries of KV Pharmaceutical Company, have issued urgent, nationwide recalls of several products due to their potential harm to consumers.

In November 2008, ETHEX Corporation issued a voluntarily recall of specific lots of at least four generic pharmaceutical products that it markets. These included:

Morphine Sulfate Extended Release Tablets (15 and 30 mg)
Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablets (10 mg)
Propafenone HCl Tablets (150, 225, and 300 mg)
Isosorbide Mononitrate Extended Release Tablets (30 and 60 mg)

According to the Food and Drug Administration, these lots were recalled due to the possibility that they may contain oversized tablets. These oversized tablets potentially contain more than the intended levels of the active drug ingredient, which can result in patients receiving nearly twice the prescribed dosage of the drugs. Overdoses of these drugs can have serious or life-threatening consequences which can include: irregular heartbeat, dangerous changes in blood pressure, fainting, difficulty or lack of breathing, and rapid heart rate.

A list of recalled drugs can be found by visiting the FDA website. Although the recall was originally issued at the wholesale level, it was expanded to the retail level in February 2009. This resulted in consumers receiving letters from their pharmacies that their drug had been recalled. However, by the time the pharmacy sent out the letter, patients had often already consumed the prescribed drugs and had thrown away the medication bottles. Please note that if you are taking a drug that is recalled, keeping your empty prescription bottles can be vital to the process of establishing causation between any injury you suffer and the recalled drug. Sadly, often the letters come out after a recall is issued and in some cases, after patients have taken the oversized drugs and have suffered illnesses or died.

The ETHEX recall debacle continued when, in January 2009, the ETHEX Corporation recalled an additional set of drugs because the products may have been manufactured under conditions that did not sufficiently comply with current FDA guidelines on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPSs). The FDA guidelines on GMPs regulate various aspects of production including the design, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, storage, and installation of a product. These guidelines can be found on the FDA’s webpage. While some violations can be as small as improper packaging, other violations can cause the pills to be defective including coating that might be too thin, an active ingredient might be double in strength, and a number of other problems that could cause injury to consumers.

The ETHEX Corporation expanded its recall in February 2009 to include several prenatal and iron supplements. Recalls and letters issued to retailers and consumers, which contain instructions on how to return recalled products for a refund, can be viewed at the KV Pharmaceutical website.

If you or a loved one is currently taking or has an order in progress for any of the products listed above, contact your prescriber or health care professional immediately. While patients should continue to take medications in accordance with their prescriptions, as suddenly stopping needed medication may also place patients at risk, the best thing to do is to call your doctor immediately.

If you or someone you know was injured as a result of taking these medications, try to retain all documents, receipts and empty medication bottles related to the drug. This includes keeping any letters you may have received from your pharmacy regarding a recall. But especially, try to retain the prescription bottle in which you received the medication. And seek help from an attorney who will preserve your rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Amanda Wick

FDA Recall of ReliOn Insulin Syringes

Amanda Wick — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:56:06 GMT

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recalling several thousand mislabeled ReliOn single use, disposable, hypodermic, insulin syringes. The ReliOn insulin syringes involved in the recall are labeled ReliOn 1cc, 31-gauge, 100 units for use with U-100 insulin, and are from Lot Number 813900. Approximately 471,000 syringes are subject to this recall.

The recalled syringes were sold at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores from August 1, 2008 through October 8, 2008. Consumers who purchased syringes from either of these stores may return the product to any store location and will be provided with a replacement product.

According to the FDA, some syringes labeled for U-40 insulin became mixed with syringes labeled for U-100, all of which were then labeled for use with U-100 insulin during the packing process. This means that the use of these syringes may lead to patients receiving an overdose of as much as 2.5 times the intended dose, which may lead to hypoglycemia, serious health consequences, and even death

Tyco HealthCare Group, the manufacturer of the ReliOn syringes, issued a voluntary recall on October 9, 2008 which asked retailers to remove the products from shelves and place them in quarantine. The recall announcement was also posted on Wal-Mart’s door and letters were sent to consumers.

The FDA urges consumers to carefully check their syringe packages carefully for ReliOn syringes labeled as 100 units for use with U-100 insulin from Lot Number 813900. Consumers who suspect they may have the product can contact Tyco HealthCare Group (Covidien) at 866-780-5436 or may visit their website at www.relion.com/recall.

Consumers may also report any side effects that result from using the recall product to the FDA’s MedWatch program via phone, fax, mail, or internet.

FDA MedWatch Contact Information

Phone: (800) FDA-1088

Fax: (800) FDA-0178

Mailing Address: MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787

Internet: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Amanda Wick

CPSC Recalls Igloo Coolers Due to Lacerations

Amanda Schlager — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:11:26 GMT

On September 24, 2008, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled nearly 7,000 Igloo coolers due to a hazardous latch.

The stainless steel latches on the Igloo Marine Elite Coolers have been reported to cause lacerations to consumer’s arms and legs. So far, eight incidents have been reported. The injuries sustained from the sharp latches have been severe enough to require stitches.

The Marine Elite Cooler model of Igloo coolers was sold exclusively to West Marine stores nationwide from January 2008 to July 2008. The recall includes white colored models with stainless steel latches in the 72 quart, 94 quart, 128 quart and 162 quart sizes.

Consumers are urged to stop using this model cooler immediately and to contact Igloo for a free replacement latch kit. Customer service representatives for Igloo can be reached toll-free at (888) 257-0934. Information can also be obtained from their website www.igloocoolers.com/safetyalert.

If you are injured as a result of using this product, or any product, seek medical attention. Keep copies of your medical records and the bills you incur as a result. Representatives of the Company that made the product will often ask you for this information should you call in to report your injury. They may also ask you for other items you may need to provide them, such as a broken part, a UPC code from the purchased item, or other proof of purchase, like a receipt. Sometimes, a Company will have a very streamlined process for dealing with these injuries and will compensate you for your injuries by simply submitting the proper materials.

However, my clients frequently report that their experience with the Company’s representative was frustrating and sometimes completely unhelpful. Some clients have even been told by the Company’s representatives to just “call a lawyer.” While this isn’t always necessary, it can be useful. A lawyer can help you navigate the process, ensure you have all the proper materials, and may seek damages for pain and suffering, in addition to your medical bills.

If you are injured as a result of a defective product, please keep the product, your receipt, and any other materials associated with it. While you do not need a lawyer, you should consider seeking legal help if you find the company to be non-responsive to your requests.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Amanda Schlager

Baby Deaths Spark Numerous Bassinet Recalls

Amanda Schlager — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:42:36 GMT

Yesterday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled almost 600,000 Simplicity Drop Side Cribs. This comes after a recent recall of almost 900,000 bassinets produced by major companies in the industry, including Graco and Simplicity, all of which were recalled as part of an ongoing list of dangerous infant beds. The CPSC issued the August 28, 2008 alert because SFCA Inc., the company which purchased all of Simplicity Inc.’s assets at public auction in April 2008, refused to cooperate with the government and recall the products. SFCA maintains that it is not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity Inc.

After the deaths of two babies in Kansas and Missouri, the CPSC recalled the Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 bassinets. Both of these models are constructed with a metal bar that has lead to strangulation deaths when the baby is trapped between the bars.

Despite reports that Graco failed to alert the CPSC of defects in similarly designed bassinets, Graco spokeswoman Stacy Becker says Graco alerted the commission of the dangers on August 28, 2008. However, the company came under fire because of the convenient timing of its “self reporting” – the CPSC alert was released late on August 27, 2008. The next day, upon seeing the alert, Graco officials informed the CPSC that some 200,000 Simplicity bassinets made before 2004, bearing the Graco name, had the same design flaw as the 900,000 recalled.

Simplicity bassinets labeled with the Graco logo were sold between 2001 and 2004. The Simplicity Winnie-the-Pooh themed bassinets were sold between 2002 and 2008.

Consumers are urged to return the recalled items to the place of purchase for a refund or store credit. A list of recalled bassinets can be found on both the Simplicity and Graco websites.

PLEASE NOTE: Given the recent criticisms of the CPSC, it’s vital for parents and consumers today to monitor recalls and be aware of product risks before purchasing. Thousands of items in our everyday life have been recalled or declared hazardous. As evidenced by the appalling lack of action taken by one of the companies listed above, companies that produce these products have no obligation to contact customers beyond reporting to the CPSC. This leaves the burden on consumers. So before going to purchase a product, consider checking the CPSC website for any recalls or product notices. You can search by product type and it includes not only toys and baby products, but also common household goods.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a defective crib, or other product, consider contacting an attorney to preserve your rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Amanda Schlager