New Jersey Personal Injury Blog
Five Retailers Recall and Stop Sale of Dangerous Tots in Mind Crib Tents
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and five retailers have announced the recall of Tots in Mind Crib Tents and Play Yard Tents due to entrapment and strangulation hazards. The firm, Tots in Mind, Inc., is no longer in business but retailers have agreed to provide refunds to consumers who own the affected products. The CPSC urges consumers to not attempt to repair the products themselves.
The defective tents pose a risk of serious injury or death to infants and toddlers. The CPSC has received reports of 27 tent failures between January 1997 and April 2012, one of which resulted in death and another which resulted in serious injury. A two-year-old boy died in 2008 after being trapped between the top rail of a play yard and the bottom rail of a play yard tent. This fatality was reported in a previous July 2010 recall of play yard tents. The reported serious injury occurred in 2007 when a two-year-old boy suffered a catastrophic brain injury when the crib tent inverted and he became trapped at the neck by the product. The other 25 reports known to the CPSC (with 3 injury incidents) involved entrapment between the play yard/crib and tent, or, failures of the tent zippers and fabric.
The recall includes a wide range of models of approximately 330,000 play yard or crib tents sold for between $60 and $85. As Tots in Mind, Inc. is no longer in business, retailers who sold the dangerous products are offering store credit or refunds to consumers. These retailers include Burlington Coat Factory, Bed Bath & Beyond, Buy Buy Baby, Walmart, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, and Amazon.com. Consumers should contact the store where they purchased the defective crib or play yard tent for a refund or store credit.
At Blume Goldfaden, our knowledgeable product liability lawyers in New Jersey have the experience and resources to investigate your claim and determine its potential merit. To learn more about your legal rights and options, call us at (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.
Lenovo Expands Recall of Computers due to Fire Risks
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the expanded recall of an estimated 13,000 Lenovo ThinkCentre M90z and M70z computers after the original recall of about 50,500 computers in March 2012 due to a power supply defect that can cause overheating and presents a fire hazard. Although no injuries have yet been reported, the firm has received a report of one fire incident and one smoke incident in the United States.
The recalled all-in-one desktop computers, or PCs, include flat-panel monitors with the PC built into the monitor housing. The monitor also houses the computer’s power supply. The computer chassis is matte black and provides the “ThinkCentre” brand name on the front lower left corner of the monitor. All identifiable information, such as the recalled model numbers, M90z and M70z, the manufacturing date code, and the serial number, are on the underside of the unit on a label. The recalled date codes include:
- 1001 – 1012
- 1101 – 1112
- 1201 – 1203
- 001 – 012
- 101 – 112
- 201 – 203
Consumers should immediately stop using the computers, unplug them, and contact Lenovo to determine whether the serial number of their computer is included in the recall. If it is, consumers may schedule an appointment with Lenovo for a replacement of the power supply at no-cost. If you own one of the recalled computers, it is recommended that you contact Lenovo even if you already pursued a remedy for the March 2012 recall. Consumers may contact Lenovo at (855) 248-2194.
Defective products can present serious injury risks to consumers. If you have been injured by a defective product in New Jersey, the experienced product liability lawyers in New Jersey at Blume Goldfaden can help you understand your legal rights and options. Call us at (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.
Chrysler Group Recalls Dodge and Chrysler Vehicles due to Electronic Stability Control System Defect
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Chrysler Group, LLC is recalling 119,072 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger vehicles due to a defect in the brake system’s antilock control unit module, which may cause overheating in the power distribution center. This defect may cause the vehicles to lose ABS (anti-lock brake) or ESC (electronic stability control) function. This may lead to a loss of vehicle control; increasing the possibility of a car accident and injury.
The recall involves model year 2011 and 2012 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles. Chrysler will notify owners of the affected vehicles and dealers with remedy the defect at no cost. This recall should begin in May 2012. For additional information, owners may call Chrysler at (800) 853-1403 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
The anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) system are important vehicle safety features. The ABS system allows the wheels to continue turning when hard braking is applied so that they still maintain active traction with the road surface and do not lock up. The ESC system detects and compensates for loss of traction in order to prevent skidding by automatically applying the brakes to aid the driver in steering the vehicle. If these systems do not function properly, the driver may be unable to avoid a crash.
If you have suffered injury in a New Jersey auto accident caused by a defective ABS or ESC system, the experienced New Jersey electronic stability control attorneys at Blume Goldfaden can help you determine whether your potential claim may have merit. To speak to one of our lawyers, call (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.
Child Safety Seats Recalled after Failing to Conform to Federal Standards
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the recall of 1,737 Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) child seats due to their failure to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, “Child Restraint Systems.” The recalled child safety seats were sold without a seat base including the required latch attachment assembly. Without this latch system, it may be more difficult to secure the seat properly. In the event of a car crash, the child may not be sufficiently protected and is more likely to suffer injury.
DJG is recalling model IC124FSM, Onboard 35, and model IC123FSM, Comfy Carry, infant child restraint systems that were manufactured from May 2011 through April 2012 and were sold without the separate seat base containing the required latch system.
The firm will notify distributors and registered owners of the recall. Those with affected units will be provided the separate seat base with the required latch system free of charge. Owners who have not registered their seat with DJG should contact the firm for the necessary seat base at (877) 416-8111, or by email at infantlatchrecall@djgusa.com. Owners of the recalled seats may also call the NHTSA for additional information at (888) 327-4236.
If your child has been injured as the result of a defective child car seat, you may be able to pursue legal action against the car seat manufacturer, designer and/or distributor. To find out whether your claim may have merit, contact the experienced New Jersey car seat defects attorneys at Blume Goldfaden for a no-cost consultation at (973) 635-5400.
Rolls-Royce Expands Recall of Ghost Vehicles due to Fire Hazard
In January 2012, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the recall of 589 Rolls-Royce Motors, Ghost vehicles due to a defect in the engine cooling system. This defect could lead to a smoldering of the water pump or even an engine compartment or vehicle fire. Recently, the NHTSA announced an expansion of this recall to include an additional 69 Rolls-Royce Ghost vehicles that are also potentially affected by the defect in the engine cooling system.
The circuit board for the electric auxiliary water pump may overheat and cause the pump to smolder or even lead to a vehicle fire.
The original recall included model year 2010 Ghost vehicles, which were manufactured from September 2009 through September 2010. The expansion of the recall adds model year 2011 Ghost vehicles. Both recall announcements involve only Ghost vehicles with turbo charged engines. The most recent recall began in April 2012. For additional information, owners may call Rolls-Royce Customer Relations and Services at (877) 877-3735, or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236. Rolls-Royce will notify owners of the affected vehicles, and dealers will replace the malfunctioning auxiliary water pump at no-cost.
Automotive defects risk the health and safety of vehicle occupants as well as others on the road. If you have been injured in a NJ auto accident that was caused by an auto defect, you may have the right to hold the auto manufacturer liable for damages.
To speak to one of our experienced New Jersey auto product liability lawyers about your potential claim, call us at (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.
CPSC Announces Recall of Girls’ Hooded Jackets due to Strangulation Hazard
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Los Angeles-based LA Fashion Hub is recalling an estimated 2,300 Girls’ Hooded Winter Jackets with drawstrings that pose a strangulation hazard to children. No incidents of injury have yet been reported.
The hazard involves a drawstring which goes through the hood of the jackets. The CPSC issued guidelines concerning drawstrings in children’s jackets and other upper outerwear in February 1996. The guidelines were included in a voluntary standard in 1997, and then in July 2011, the CPSC used the guidelines and standard to create a federal regulation. The purpose of this regulation is to prevent strangulation and/or entanglement of children on neck and waist drawstrings.
The affected girls’ jackets, which were manufactured in China, include a drawstring through the hoods and were sold in sizes 6X, 6, 5, and 4T, and in the colors yellow, turquoise, pink, and red. The jackets are made from polyester and polyester fill; they have a front, snap, zipper, or Velcro closure; they have varying designs on the collar, along the front of the jacket, and on the pockets; and they include an embroidered heart or flower design on the front of the jackets.
These jackets were sold exclusively at dd’s Discount stores across the country for approximately $10 from January 2011 through January 2012.
Consumers may remove the drawstring to eliminate the hazard or return the recalled jacket to a dd’s Discount store for a complete refund. For additional information, consumers may call LA Fashion Hub at (800) 919-1001.
If your child has been injured as the result of a defective product in New Jersey, you may be able to pursue civil litigation to recover damages for injuries and other losses. The experienced defective consumer product attorneys in New Jersey at Blume Goldfaden can help you determine the validity of your potential claim. Call us at (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.