Illinois Injury and Mass Tort Lawyer Blog

Published on: March 15, 2023

Hair Relaxer Cases are Consolidated and Transferred to the Northern District of Illinois

girl-g884c26c0f_640 Recently, four plaintiffs moved under 28 U.S.C. § 1407 to consolidate nearly 60 hair relaxer lawsuits filed both in the Northern District of Illinois and the Northern District of California in the Northern District of Illinois. The centralized litigation involves 9 lawsuits pending in four districts. There are 44 federal lawsuits in another 15 districts that are related. There were about 24 potential tag-along actions. Manufacturers who have been sued include L’Oréal USA and Strength of Nature Global, and Revlon Consumer Products Corp. If you were injured by hair relaxer made by any of these defendants, you should call the seasoned Chicago product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group.

Call Moll Law Group About Dangerous Hair Relaxer

In their motion, plaintiffs indicated that they supported transfer to the Northern District of Illinois, though they also suggested other venues for the potential transfer. The defendants opposed the motion to consolidate but agreed that the cases should be centralized in either the Northern District of Illinois or Southern District of New York.

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), before whom the motion was brought, found that consolidation would be most convenient and promote an efficient, fair resolution. It remarked on common factual questions with regard to lawsuits that allege, based on a National Institute of Health (NIH) study, that women who frequently used chemical hair straightening or relaxing products made by the defendants were more than twice as likely to get uterine cancer as those who did not. The hair relaxers include phthalates such as di-2ethylhexylphthalate and other chemicals that are believed to disrupt the endocrine system.

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Published on: March 8, 2023

Expert Says that Additives Banned in Europe Have Made Americans Sick

By Moll Law Group

bread-g0f45ffd2c_640 Recently, a food additives expert, Professor Erik Millstone, of England’s University of Sussex, stated that certain additives banned in Europe, along with China and India, have not been banned in the United States. These additives, some of them suspected carcinogens, may be making Americans sick.

One such chemical compound is potassium bromate. It is used in breads, in the form of powder and crystals, to strengthen the dough. Potassium bromate is believed to be part of more than 100 products in the United States. Other substances banned in Europe due to associated health concerns include titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, azodicarbonamide, and propylparaben.

Professor Millstone told CBS that there is evidence potassium bromate may be toxic to people and could even promote tumor development. He stressed that European regulators are more cautious about food safety than United States regulators are.

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Published on: March 1, 2023

Cosori Air Fryers are Recalled

By Moll Law Group

french-fries-g4d9478c75_640-300x169 Reports made to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) claim that the air fryers made by Cosori, one of the most popular brands, catch on fire. The company has recalled the affected air fryers. According to the consumer agency, the recall has been issued because there is a faulty wire connection inside the air fryers. This may result in air fryers smoking, melting, burning, and otherwise overheating. Ten of the reports made to the CPSC involved burns and other minor injuries; there was also property damage reported. If you were injured by a Cosori air fryer, you may be wondering whether you have any recourse. Call experienced Chicago product liability lawyers at Moll Law Group to determine your legal options. Billions have been recovered in product liability lawsuits with which we’ve been involved.

Call Moll Law Group About an Air Fryer Claim

Amazon, Target, Home Depot, and Best Buy sold the recalled air fryers online from June 2018-December 2022 for $70-$130. The models were sold in many different colors including blue, white, gray, black and red. If you have an affected model, you can register your air fryer online to get it replaced or you can call 1-888-216-5974.

There are alternatives to the Cosori air fryers if you wish to buy a different air fryer. However, if you were injured, you may be wondering if you have any remedies. It may be appropriate to bring a product liability lawsuit against Cosori. This type of lawsuit can be pursued when a product is dangerous because of manufacturing, design, or marketing defects.

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Published on: February 21, 2023

Several Brands of Children’s Pajamas Recalled Over Fire-Safety Concerns

By Moll Law Group

Recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission posted notice of several recalls involving children’s pajamas. While the recalls involved various manufacturers, the products were widely available online through major retailers such as Amazon, Uncommon Goods, and Macy’s, as well as in boutique stores nationwide.

Why Are Children’s Pajamas Being Recalled?

According to various posts on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) website, the manufacturers of the pajama sets issued the recalls because they failed to meet the federal flammability standards for children’s sleepwear. Under existing regulations, all children’s sleepwear for children over the age of nine months must be either flame-resistant or tight-fitting. Tight-fitting pajamas do not need to be flame-resistant because close-fitting clothes pose a much lower risk of catching fire. All children’s pajamas that were recently recalled were not tight-fitting and failed to comply with the CPSC’s flame-resistant requirements.

Which Children’s Pajamas Were Recalled?

While many brands of children’s pajamas have been subject to recalls over recent months, the most recent group of recalls affects the following brands:

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Published on: February 13, 2023

4.7 Million Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleepers Recalled

By Moll Law Group

Child in pajamas Fisher-Price recently recalled its Rock ‘n Play Sleepers. The sleepers are made for infants, and they allow for parents to place their babies in bassinet-like beds designed for easy and comfortable sleeping. These sleepers were recalled because infants have tragically died while rolling from their backs to their stomachs or sides while unrestrained. Consumers have been advised to immediately stop using the strollers and to get a refund from Fisher-Price if they own the sleeper. If your child was injured due to an experience with the Rock ‘n Play, you should give the liability lawyers of Moll Law Group a call as soon as possible. Thanks to our team, billions have been recovered in lawsuits after consumer injuries just like these.

Details of the Recalled Fish ‘n Play Product

Approximately 100 deaths have occurred in connection with this Fisher-Price product. Apparently, the deaths have almost always happened when infants have rolled around while in the sleepers, partially because the infants have been entirely unrestrained. Fisher-Price reported that in several of the reported instances, it has been unable to confirm the exact circumstances that caused the related death or injury.

Affected sleepers were sold at Walmart, Target, and online at Amazon. Fisher-Price put the product on the market in September 2009, and they have been sold for anywhere between $40 and $149 since then. As of January 9, 2023, it is illegal to sell or distribute the recalled product. All models of the Rock ‘n Play sleeper have been recalled. To receive a refund for the Fish ‘n Play, consumers can go to Fisher-Price website and submit a claim. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 4.7 million of the recalled Rock ‘n Play sleepers have been sold to U.S. consumers.

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Published on: February 6, 2023

LG Recalls 86-Inch Smart Televisions and Stands Due to Fall Hazards

By Moll Law Group

LG recently recalled its 86-inch smart televisions and stands. According to consumer reports, the TV can become unstable and cause serious tip-over hazards to consumers. Because of this injury risk, the company recalled the product on January 12, 2023. If you have been injured while using this TV, give us a call at the Moll Law Group as soon as possible. We take great care in representing those that have been injured in situations just like these, and we offer personalized solutions that can get you compensated for your injuries.

Baby near TV The LG 86-Inch Smart TV and Stand

Approximately 52,000 of the recalled TVs and stands have been sold in the United States, while 1,800 have been sold in Canada and 2,900 have been sold in Mexico. The recall involves four specific models that each weigh approximately 100 pounds. LG is recalling the product because 22 consumers have reported that the TV stand is unstable; 12 of these consumers reported that the TV has actually tipped over while on the stand. Fortunately, at this point, no injuries have been reported.

If you own one of these TVs, you should immediately take it off the stand and put it in a spot away from kids or other individuals that could be more at risk of injury. Consumers that have their TVs mounted to the wall can continue using their TVs as they have historically used them, as the recall does not impact the safety of wall-mounted units.

The TVs have been sold both in person and online at major retailers such as Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, and Amazon. LG first put the TVs and stands on the market in March 2022, and consumers typically pay anywhere from $1,100 to $1,900 for the product.

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Published on: February 1, 2023

All Eyes on Goodyear Tire Amid the Company’s Handling of a Tire Recall

By Moll Law Group

In an ongoing investigation against Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., the company is in the hot seat for how it has handled the recall of a product it stopped manufacturing in 2003. The product is a specific model of tire that has been used primarily on motor homes, and that has been found defective under certain conditions. When the tire is placed on a heavy RV or is not properly inflated, the tread can separate and ultimately cause injuries for consumers. So far, the tire has been linked to eight deaths and 69 injuries. On top of these figures, there have also been approximately 600 reports of property damage due to the tire’s possible defects.

tires Because the company stopped manufacturing the product almost 20 years ago, most of the tires are no longer in use. However, in early 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a statement recalling the 173,000 tires that could have possibly still been on the road. Now, the U.S. Justice Department is investigating the company for its response to the tire recall.

Apparently, the Justice Department has been asking for Goodyear records, reports, depositions, and other documents that might be relevant to the investigation. Goodyear claims that it has turned over everything the Justice Department has asked for and that it will continue to cooperate. To further complicate things, the company recently released a statement alleging the tire line was not defective at all. There is no active issue, said Goodyear, since the company has not received an injury report in over 14 years related to this tire.

Still, investigators want to make sure that consumers using this tire are aware of the risks and are well-protected. Oftentimes, a tire recall happens in an abundance of caution and as a preventative measure. Just because a product is recalled does not mean that the manufacturing company is actually liable for the injuries that have been reported. An investigation is required, and the claims must be carefully reviewed and studied. If the investigation determines that the manufacturing company is responsible for the injuries, consumers may be entitled to compensation as a result.

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Published on: January 15, 2023

Weighted Blanket Recalled Following the Deaths of Two Children

By Moll Law Group

sunday-half-past-ten-a-m-1413207-scaled

Target stores recently announced a recall of more than 200,000 Pillowfort weighted blankets following multiple reports that children can become trapped under the blanket. In a statement, Target explained that the blankets, which are specifically marketed towards children, “pose a risk of death by asphyxiation.”

The weighted blanket recall follows confirmed reports from parents that their children were able to open up the outer cover of the blanket and crawl inside, at which point they became trapped. According to a recent news report,two children died last year from suffocation after getting trapped inside the Pillowfort weighted blanket.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Target are both suggesting that customers who purchased a Pillowfort weighted blanket return the item to the store for a refund. Of course, for families whose children may have been injured or killed as a result of the recalled product, a refund of $40 isn’t a fair remedy.

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Published on: December 27, 2022

Bentex Recalls Children’s Clothing

By Moll Law Group

infant-1331996_640-e1670957004421 Recently, the company Bentex recalled children’s clothing after a violation of the Federal Lead Paint and Lead Content Ban was discovered. The clothing presents a lead poisoning hazard to children: the ink painted on the recalled clothes contains lead levels that exceed the federal standards, presenting a lead poisoning danger to children. Lead can be toxic, so it is crucial to check whether your children’s Bentex clothing has been affected. If your child was made sick by Bentex children’s clothing, you should call the trustworthy Chicago product liability lawyers of the Moll Law Group. Billions have been recovered in product liability lawsuits with which we’ve been involved.

Consult Moll Law Group About Your Child’s Bentex Clothing Injuries

Young children can suffer lead poisoning if they are exposed to lead beyond a certain level and face serious medical harm. Bentex recalled around 87,000 units of its clothes on November 23, 2022. Recalled clothes were printed with 9 different Disney themes. Their item and batch numbers can be found on the neck of the clothes or their side labels.

Recalled clothes included:

Infant girls’ polyester 2-piece set printed with Minnie Mouse and white and yellow flowers through size 18;
2-piece sets for toddler girls that are printed with Minnie Mouse and gray shorts with black polka dots and Minnie Mouse heads;
Toddler girls’ 2-pieces through 4-6X with Winnie the Pooh and “Hello Hunny” printed on them
Girls’ 2-piece for sizes 4-16 printed with Disney Descendants characters and the words “Wickedly Fierce”;
Children’s 100% cotton green long-sleeves 2-piece sets for infants and newborns that are printed with baby Yoda and frogs;
2-pack of newborn boys’ cotton shorts printed with Mickey Mouse from sizes 4-7;
3-pack of 100% cotton sweatpants with Mickey Mouse printed on them;
Winnie the Poo and Tigger cotton 2-piece sets;
Infant girls’ 2-piece set printed with “Best Buds” and Minnie Mouse.

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Published on: December 20, 2022

Mockingbird Recalls Single-to-Double Stroller Because Of Fall Hazards

By Moll Law Group

stroller-891080_1280-e1670956575234 Mockingbird recently recalled its single-to-double strollers. They recalled the strollers because the lower side of the stroller frames have the potential to crack and create a fall hazard for children. Around 149,000 stroller units were affected. Consumers were asked to immediately stop using the strollers and contact Mockingbird to get a free frame reinforcement kit. However, if your child was injured due to a fall in a Mockingbird single-to-double stroller, you should give the experienced Chicago product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group a call. Billions have been recovered in lawsuits with which we’ve been involved, and we are tenacious advocates for consumers.

Call Moll Law Group About Injuries to Your Child

Mockingbird has received 138 reports of cracks in the frames of the affected strollers, which are made of aluminum and come in black or silver, with canopies that are black, light blue, green pink, or dark blue. So far, 8 injuries involving bruises, cuts, and scratches have been reported in connection with the Mockingbird. The recall impacted only Mockingbird single-to-double strollers with lot numbers between 20,091 and 22,602. To determine whether you have a stroller that has been recalled, you should look for the lot number, which will be printed on a white product label on the inner left side of your stroller’s frame.

Affected Mockingbird strollers were sold at Target, along with online retailers like mockingbird.com, goodbyegear.com, and babylist.com. If you have a recalled stroller, you should stop using it until you get a frame reinforcement kit that the company will send you once you report you have an affected stroller.

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