August 19, 2010

Food and Drug Administration announces many product recalls in August 2010

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced several product recalls this month and the month is not even over. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products and frequently announces product recalls. First, in cooperation with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Circus World has recalled wireless video baby monitors due to overheating hazard. Wiring in the baby monitor camera can overheat and emit smoke, posing a burn hazard to consumers. Second, P. Graham Dunn in cooperation with the U.S. CPSC has recalled nearly 500 wooden toy rattles, which pose a serious choking hazard to young children. Third, the U.S. CPSC and Asurion have voluntarily recalled about 470,000 counterfeit Blackberry-branded cell phone batteries in refurbished devices; the batteries can overheat, posing burn and fire hazards.

Additionally, the US CPSC and LG Electronics have reannounced the Goldstar and Comfort-Aire dehumidifier recall, which affects about 98,000 dehumidifiers. The power connector for the dehumidifer’s compressor can short circuit and pose serious fire and burn hazards to consumers. Another fire hazard product recall involved the Bosch Thermotechnology Boiler Survey Kit. The recall affects about 1500 service kit for gas-fired boilers. The use of a silver-covered gas pipe adapter included in the service kit can lead to gas leakage, which can pose a fire or explosion hazard to consumers. Miami Breaker, Inc. has also voluntarily recalled products due to fire hazard. Their product recall involves about 43,600 counterfeit “Square D” circuit breakers, which can fail to trip when they are overloaded.

To read more about recent product recalls, please visit the CPSC website.

November 16, 2009

CPSC records reveal iPod fire incidents

KIRO-TV has reported that consumer investigator has received documents concerning Apple iPod personal injuries from the CPSC. The documents reveal that on a number of occasions, iPods have suddenly burst into flames, started to smoke, and possibly even burned their owners.

To read more about the iPod personal injuries.

November 8, 2009

Chicago boy dies from burns after lighter accident

A 4 year-old Chicago boy suffered severe burns after playing with a lighter in his Chicago apartment. He has died from his injuries. No criminal charges were filed in the case.

To read more about the Chicago boy’s death.

October 13, 2009

Chicago child dies in fire

In another Chicago fire injury tragedy, a two-year old has died in an Illinois fire on the west side of Chicago. An overloaded electrical socket sparked the fire. According to a Fire Department Commander, the home did not have working smoke detectors.

Levin & Perconti is familiar with the tragedy that can happen when buildings have failing smoke detectors. Two years ago, Levin & Perconti obtained a $6 million fire settlement for the families who lost six children in a Chicago apartment fire.

To read more about the 2 year-old’s wrongful death.

September 30, 2009

Injury lawsuit filed against Apple

KIRO-TV has reported that an injury lawsuit has been filed against Apple. The injury lawsuit claims that an iPod Touch suddenly caught fire while in his pocket. The lawsuit is seeking more than $200,000 in damages.

To read more about the Apple injury lawsuit.

September 20, 2009

Baby’s burn from hash browns results in lawsuit

A mother has filed a personal injury lawsuit against a Dunkin’ Donuts for her baby’s injury from eating hash browns. The personal injury lawsuit claims that the toddler sustained severe burns by eating scorching hash browns.

To read more about the burn injury lawsuit.

July 26, 2009

BioSensory mosquito monitor recall

A product recall has been issued for approximately 70 units of Mosquito Trans and 1500 units of Bed Bug monitors. The voluntary product recall was issued after the company discovered the two products are cut and burn hazards. The CPSC announced the product recall on July 7.

To read more about the mosquito monitor recall.

July 13, 2009

Illinois fire marshal issues smoke detector warning

The attorneys at Levin & Perconti have continued to stress the importance of ensuring that homes have working smoke detectors and wanted to share the Illinois Fire Marshal’s instructions with our readers. The Illinois Fire Marshal is asking people to check to see if they are using a recalled smoke detector. While you are looking to see what type of smoke detector you have in your home, please also check to see if its working!

To read more about the Illinois fire marshal warning.

July 8, 2009

Bed maker recalls 2700 mattresses for fire hazard

A mattress manufacturer recently issued a product recall for beds at high risk for fires. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled approximately 2700 units of mattress sets, including mattresses and mattresses with foundations. The product recall was announced after discovering the products pose a fire hazard.

To read more about the bed maker product recall.

June 29, 2009

Chicago car crash results in 1 death, several injuries

A fiery Chicago car crash in the East Garfield Park neighborhood resulted in one death and several people receiving personal injuries. A van had been traveling south in Chicago on California and flipped over on its roof after impact. Two other male teens involved in the car crash received bad burn injuries.

To read more about the Chicago car crash.

June 21, 2009

Chemical leak at food plant results in one death

An ammonia leak at a food processing plant has resulted in one wrongful death and four others receiving personal injuries. The workplace death was caused apparently from severe burns. Preliminary reports said that there was a leak in the line that goes to a machine that freezes the food.

To read more about the deadly chemical leak.

June 21, 2009

1 dead and 6 hurt in Illinois train derailment

One person has died and six people received personal injuries when a cargo train derailed in Illinois, causing an explosion and a fire. The train in Illinois was carrying chemicals that burned for hours, forcing evacuations of about 600 Chicago-area homes.

To read more about the Illinois train derailment.

June 2, 2009

Chicago woman dies in apartment building fire

A 61 year-old Chicago woman died from burn injuries sustained in a Chicago apartment fire this morning. There were no working smoke detectors in the home.

Unfortunately, the tragic truth is that many fire-related deaths could have been prevented with working smoke detectors. In November 2007, attorneys at Levin & Perconti settled an apartment fire lawsuit that stemmed from a fire that claimed the lives of six Chicago children. That apartment also lacked a working smoke detector.

To read more about the Chicago apartment fire.

May 25, 2009

Single cup tea/coffeemakers recalled due to burn hazards

The U.S. CSPC issued a recall for Bunn Single Cup Pod Brewers because the pod drawer of the pod brewer can open unexpectedly during a brew cycle, posing a burn hazard to consumers. Bunn-O-Matic has received 10 reports of the drawer opening unexpectedly, including one report of minor burns.

To read more about the recall.

April 11, 2009

Mother files personal injury lawsuit against son’s estate

A woman who received severe personal injuries after trying to save her son from a house fire last year has filed a personal injury lawsuit against his estate. The personal injury plaintiff was badly burned in the fire and had to have part of her arm amputated. The personal injury lawsuit claims that her son was negligent for smoking in bed when he couldn’t extinguish any fire that might result.

To read more about the personal injury lawsuit.

January 11, 2009

Illinois fire kills boy, grandfather

A four year-old boy became the second death following an Illinois fire that engulfed a home. The boy’s grandfather also died as result of the fire. Another child, four months of age, was admitted to a burn unit in critical condition.

For the full article.

January 4, 2009

Workers burned after corn dust explosion at work site

Three men were seriously burned last week after corn dust caused two explosions at a worksite. State officials are investigating the worksite to determine the cause of the explosion and any possible violations. The fire chief said that the men were lucky to survive the explosion, which was so strong that it lifted a semitruck carrying 80,0000 pounds of grain.

For the full article.

December 18, 2008

Woman recovering after face transplant

The first person in the United States is now recovering after a facial transplant. Prior to the surgery, the personal injuries were ghastly. She had no nose, no palate, and no way to eat or breathe. Other candidates were considered and dozens of desperate burn injury victims were considered. This candidate was selected because her face was so badly injured.

The world’s first partial face transplant was performed in France in 2005 on a woman who had received personal injuries in a dog bite attack. Apart from some rejection issues, she has done well.

For the full article.

November 30, 2008

Toddler Killed in South Side Fire

A 2-year-old boy was killed in a house fire in Chicago’s South Side’s Back-of-the-Yards neighborhood. The fire occurred in a 1 ½ story house in the 5700 block of South Hoyne Avenue. When firefighters arrived they found the blaze “fully involved” with fire shooting out of windows from the front of the house. Firefighters found the toddler in a front bedroom and rushed him out of the burning home. The 2-year-old boy was taken to the hospital with personal injuries. He was pronounced dead by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Officer. The still-and-box alarm fire was extinguished and there were no other reports of personal injuries. The fire department remained on the scene Saturday night investigating the cause and origin of the blaze. At this time, no wrongful death lawsuits have been filed. To read the full story, click here.

November 23, 2008

Travis Barker files personal injury lawsuit against airline and tire companies

Travis Barker, who recently survived a deadly plane crash, has filed a personal injury lawsuit against four companies. The personal injury lawyer who filed the lawsuit alleges that the man was hurt and injured in his health, strength, and activity, sustaining injuries to his body and shock and injury to his nervous system. The personal injury lawsuit also alleges that Barker’s injuries will result in permanent disability.

For the full article.