Articles Posted in Product Liability

The 3M lawsuits arising out of defective earplugs worn by servicemembers have been consolidated into the largest multidistrict litigation (MDL) in history. The MDL is larger than the asbestos and talc product cases. In the litigation, United States military veterans and service members have alleged they experienced hearing damage because they used 3M’s Combat Arms earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2). If you were harmed by defective earplugs, you should give the experienced Chicago-based lawyers of Moll Law Group a call. Billions have been recovered in cases with which we’ve been involved, and we represent clients around the country.

The earplugs at issue were used by many servicemembers deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq between 2001 – 2015. The leading cause of disability among veterans, according to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is hearing damage. In 2018, 3M paid $9.1 million to settle the United States government’s claim that it concealed defects in the earplugs; however, it didn’t admit it was liable for damages. The multidistrict litigation is presided over by Judge M. Casey Rodgers.

Around 200,000 cases are pending against the manufacturer 3M. Certain lawsuits have been selected for bellwether test trials. In this process, plaintiffs and defendants alternate in selecting specific cases to serve as bellwether cases, with each side trying to put forward cases they respectively believe are strongly in their favor. However, certain cases are chosen for trial by the judge because they don’t overly favor either the plaintiffs or the defendant.

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On November 12, 2021, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its recall of specific Philips Respironics ventilators, CPAP machines, and BiPAP machines. The recall for certain machines occurred on June 14, 2021. They were found to carry health risks connected to polyester-based polyurethane sound abatement foam that was used in them. The foam can deteriorate, resulting in severe injuries, which can be life threatening and cause permanent disabilities when medical intervention is not provided. If you were harmed by one of the machines in question, you should call the experienced Chicago-based product liability lawyers of the Moll Law Group.

The FDA inspected the Philips Respironics’ manufacturing facility to decide what contributed to the foam concerns. The FDA’s inspections include evidence production and testing, systems intended to make sure the product meets quality standards, review of records, staff training, and operations.

In the course of an inspection, an FDA investigator did observe issues outlined in an inspection closeout report.

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Chicago parents should remain alert to the possibility of furniture tip-overs. Certain dressers are not safe or carry a great hazard of tip-overs. A child can be quickly and silently crushed beneath dressers. Parents or other caregivers may not hear their cries, or they may not even have time to cry before suffering fatal injuries. Recently the Nova Series 5-Drawer Chest, Model B1428-10 was recalled by Magnussen Home Furnishings, Inc. of Riverside. Like many other chests, the recalled ones are unstable when they aren’t anchored to the wall, which means they present tip-over and entrapment hazards that can lead to a child’s serious injuries or even death.

The recalled Nova Series chests of drawers don’t comply with performance requirements set forth by the voluntary industry standard ASTM F2057-19. They are 54-inch brown dressers with walnut veneers. They were made between August 2009 – August 2015. They measure 18 inches deep and 40 inches wide.

You can check your dresser for a label on the back in the top left-hand corner. This label should incorporate both the month and year of manufacture as well as the model number. The recalled units have date codes that represent August 2009 and August 2015: AG09 and AG15.

Last year, a woman who was trying to make beans in a Crock-Pot 6-Quart Express Crock Multi-Cooker pressure cooker was left with second and third-degree burns on her arms, chest, and face. She reported that the way the pressure cooker was sitting, it hit the cupboard and flew across the kitchen. Hot liquid exploded everywhere. The accident happened quickly, so that there was no time to protect herself. She reported that the pain was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. The pressure cooker was later recalled, model number SCCPPC600-V1. At the Moll Law Group, our seasoned Chicago pressure cooker lawyers may be able to help you recover damages in a lawsuit if you are harmed by the explosion of a defective product in the kitchen.

After the explosion, the woman’s mother called 911. Her recovery took more than a year. In that time period, doctors needed to use five square feet of cadaver skin grafts to treat the burned regions.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) explained that a cooker may pressurize when the lid isn’t completely locked. This can result in the lid separating from the device and flying off. When there’s hot liquid inside, it presents a serious burn risk. The CPSC received 119 reports that the lid had detached; these incidents caused 99 burn injuries, ranging in severity to third-degree burns. Disturbingly, customer reviews also specified this issue.

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