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.
Yu Wei Company Recalls 8,000 Drop-Side Cribs due to Entrapment, Suffocation Hazards
Yu Wei, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling approximately 8,000 drop-side cribs that were sold exclusively through JC Penny due to a defect that creates potential entrapment and suffocation hazards. There have been nine reported incidents where the drop side rails have detached or malfunctioned, one of which resulted in child injury.
The drop-side rails of the crib can detach, unexpectedly fall down, or otherwise malfunction, causing part of the crib’s drop side to be out of its correct position, resulting in a space where a toddler or infant can become trapped or wedged. This entrapment can lead to suffocation or strangulation. The out-of-position drop-side can also pose a falling hazard.
The affected drop-side cribs include Yu Wei full-size cribs sold under the model names of Lauren and Scroll. They were sold at jcpenny.com and through the JC Penny catalog for between $300 and $450 from January 2006 through December 2010. The cribs were sold in dark cherry, pecan, and antique colors, and have the following date and model number combinations, which can be found on the inside of the end panels:
- Scroll Crib, Model 343-8225, Date Code 01/2006 to 12-2010; and
- Lauren Crib, Model 343-9117, Date Code 01/2007 to 12/2010.
Owners of a recalled cribs should stop using it immediately and contact Yu Wei for an immobilizer kit that will immobilize the drop-side, free of charge. It is also recommended that parents find an alternate sleep environment for their child until the defective crib is repaired. Additional information is available through the manufacturer at (877) 806-8190 or on their website: www.yuweicribrecalls.com.
If your child has been injured by a defective product, then you may be entitled to recover monetarily for his or her injuries and the costs associated with their medical and other care. At Blume Goldfaden, our defective product lawyers in New Jersey can help you determine if a manufacturer may be responsible for the injuries associated with the use of their product. Call us at (973) 635-5400 to determine whether you have a meritorious claim.