Illinois Injury and Mass Tort Lawyer Blog

Published on: March 22, 2023

New Report on Consumer Protection Safety Commission is Published

shopping-mall-g407936081_640 Recently, the United States Public Interest Research Group Education Fund published a report by Teresa Murray, a consumer watchdog with the nonpartisan consumer advocacy nonprofit PIRG. The report demonstrates: (1) the CPSC isn’t financed well enough to completely protect consumers from dangerous products, (2) the CPSC isn’t authorized to immediately warn or recall items without the consent of a manufacturer, and (3) manufacturers don’t back up recalls by letting consumers know through marketing that they should stop using defective items.

Murray analyzed recalls involving 292 products that were recalled last year and the 3600 complaints about those products. She learned that the products remained on the market for months, even as more and more consumers were injured by them. Consumers would file numerous complaints prior to recalls. The companies would sometimes delay in providing notice to CPSC of the dangers. Nothing was done for months or even years.

While the CPSC website tells consumers to make sure the products they buy are safe before purchasing, it doesn’t contain the full spectrum of reports that consumers make to manufacturers. This omission can make you, as a consumer, feel more secure than you are. For instance, though Horizon had received 874 reports that its treadmill unexpectedly changed speeds or halted and more than 70 people got hurt in those incidents, there were only 8 reports of malfunction that were made public. Similarly, 429 different products were linked to 62 deaths, almost 1600 injuries and over 23,000 non-injury producing defects. But of note, and by way of comparison, the CPSC public data collection reported only 13 deaths, 135 injuries and 96 breakdowns in those products.

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Published on: March 17, 2023

Revlon Faces Hair Relaxer Cancer Claims as Bankruptcy Nears End

By Moll Law Group

beauty-salon-gadb23bc0d_640-e1678838841620 Several companies have faced lawsuits related to injuries caused by their hair relaxers. Recently, the bankruptcy judge responsible for overseeing their Chapter 11 bankruptcy extended the deadline by which consumers with certain types of cancer can file claims against the company. The number of claims against the company and other similar companies based on the link between uterine cancer and chemical hair relaxers are growing. If you’ve developed uterine cancer that you believe is related to use of a hair relaxer, you should call the experienced product liability attorneys of Moll Law Group to see whether you have a viable claim. Billions have been recovered in cases with which we’ve been involved.

Call Moll Law Group About Your Hair Relaxer Claim

The original deadline to institute the hair relaxer claims occurred in October after publication of a study that demonstrates a link between certain chemical hair relaxers and uterine cancer. However, United States Bankruptcy Judge David S. Jones extended the deadline to April 11, 2023. If you believe you have a claim, you can file it by this date. The judge acknowledged that most mass torts allow customers to file claims for more than a month-long window but doesn’t want to prolong the company’s exit from bankruptcy by pushing the deadline further out.

Revlon’s attorney, meanwhile, has said he doesn’t believe there is a connection between its product and cancer, and that, in fact, claimants should be vetted further. The company’s own representative did not comment on the NIH study, which examined data from almost 33,500 women to find that those who often used hair straightening products were more than twice as likely to get uterine cancer than those who didn’t. In the study, around 60% of the consumers who had straightened their hair chemically were Black women.

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Published on: March 15, 2023

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

By Moll Law Group

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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