Illinois Injury and Mass Tort Lawyer Blog

Published on: October 6, 2021

Accidents Involving Defective Chairs

Fall Hazards with Antigravity Chairs

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced Kohl’s recall of SONOMA Goods For Life-branded Ultimate Oversized Antigravity Chairs. Kohl’s stores sold the chairs from January 2019- June 2021 for around $240. The chairs come in various colors. They are built with aluminum frames and legs, fabric backs, and removable head pillows fixed in place with Velcro. A tag is sewed into the fabric on the chair’s seat. Consumers were told to stop using recalled chairs and return them to the store. If you were injured in a fall due to an antigravity chair, you should discuss what happened with the experienced Chicago product liability attorneys of the Moll Law Group. Billions of dollars have been recovered in litigation with which we’ve been involved.

Fall Hazards Arising Out of Antigravity Chairs

Prior to the recall, there were 18 reports made to Kohl’s of the antigravity chairs breaking or collapsing. In two instances, users received minor injuries. As a consumer, you should stop using the recalled antigravity chairs immediately and bring them back to the store. If you have a receipt, you can get a full refund. You will get store credit if you don’t have a receipt.

Product Liability Lawsuits

If you were injured in an antigravity chair, you may be able to recover damages. Each state follows its own rules regarding which theories may be used to pursue damages. Product liability lawsuits tend to be complex, which is why it is critical to retain a lawyer with experience in this practice area.

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Published on: September 30, 2021

Chicago-Based Lawyers for Magnet Ingestion Claims

By Moll Law Group

magnets-113315_1280-300x225 Children in Chicago and elsewhere are often extremely curious. They may put things in their mouths that are dangerous or should not be consumed. Among the many attractive products that may intrigue kids are magnets, whether refrigerator magnets or magnetic spheres or toys that contain magnets. They may be drawn by a bright color or by a toy’s magnetic properties. In August 2021, Zen Magnets and Neoballs Magnets were recalled because they posed an ingestion hazard. If you suspect your child has swallowed a magnet or more than one magnet, it is crucial to take him or her to receive emergency care. You may be concerned about the bills. Many families do not have enough money to cover the hospital bills or care required by the injuries suffered due to magnets. You should discuss what happened with the experienced Chicago attorneys of the Moll Law Group. Billions have been recovered in cases with which we’ve been involved.

Recall of Zen Magnets and Neoballs Magnets

When a child swallows two or more high-powered magnets, whether accidentally or intentionally, the magnets that were consumed may be attracted to each other or a different metal object. They could become lodged in the child’s digestive system. The presence of the magnets can result in twisting or blockage of the intestines, along with blood poisoning and death.

The mandatory recall involved both Zen Magnets and Neoballs magnets, which are highly powerful spherical magnets that are 5 mm in diameter. Neoballs are sold in a range of colors, including green, red, purple, blue, silver, gold, and orange. They were packaged with “Neoballs’ or “Zen Magnets” printed on the package. In total, around 10 million magnets, packaged individually and in sets, were recalled.

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Published on: September 27, 2021

Boppy Company Recalls More than 3 Million Infant Loungers

By Moll Law Group

baby-784609_640-300x199 The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced an alarming recall of which Chicago parents and parents around the country should be aware. The Boppy company recalled more than 3 million loungers for infants and newborns based on suffocation risks. The recalled lines include Pottery Barn Kids Boppy Newborn Loungers, Boppy Preferred Newborn Loungers, and Original Newborn Loungers. If your baby was suffocated and suffered injuries or death while using a Boppy lounger, you should call the experienced Chicago child injury attorneys of the Moll Law Firm about whether you have a case against the manufacturer or others in the chain of distribution.

Risk of Suffocation

Babies can be suffocated when placed in a Boppy or another infant lounger in a position that allows them to move or roll. They can also suffocate if they roll off a lounger onto another surface such as soft bedding or pillows on an adult bed. According to the CPSC, between December 2015 and June 2020, 8 infants suffocated after they were set on their stomachs, sides, or backs in Boppy loungers. They were discovered lying on their stomachs or sides.

Three million loungers for infants and newborns were recalled on September 23. In the United States, 3.3 million loungers have been sold in the United States. In Canada, Boppy sold 35,000 of these loungers. The loungers cost between $30-$44. They were sold January 2004 – September 2021.

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Published on: September 20, 2021

Recall of Children’s Cutie Spoovel Utensils

By Moll Law Group

cooking-4299302_1280-300x199 Parents in Chicago and around the country should be aware that recently, Ryan and Rose recalled the Cutie Spoovel utensil. The Cutie Spoovel is a transitional tool little kids use to eat, and it can present a danger. The handle of the Cutie Spoovel utensil can break off; this results in the release of small parts, posing a choking hazard for young children. The tool comes in two colors and is fashioned from a plastic core sheathed in silicone. The back of the spoon identifies the utensil as made by “Cutie Spoovel” and RR is printed on the handle back.

The manufacturer received three separate reports that the Cutie Spoovel utensil’s handle broke when a child bit down on it. Neither injuries nor choking have been reported. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advised all recalled utensils should be removed from children. They should be disposed. The company can be contacted for either a full refund or a $20 shop credit.

In addition, if your child suffered injuries because of a Cutie Spoovel or other utensil for children, you may be able to recover damages in a product liability lawsuit. These lawsuits are brought when a person who used the product is injured by a defect in it. You and your child might be able to recover compensation if your child was injured by a defective Cutie Spoovel utensil or another child tool.

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Published on: September 14, 2021

Safety Considerations for Chicago Parents at the Start of the School Year

By Moll Law Group

Thousands of children are vulnerable to injury in connection with conditions at school or extracurricular activities. Chicago children may sustain injury or even be killed while playing sports, on playgrounds, or scootering or biking or walking to and from their schools. Now there are additional risks kids face because of COVID-19 and its variants. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently asked parents across the country to “Think Safety First” in recognition of issues that could come up in connection as children return to school.

Safety Considerations

One of the CPSC’s critical safety tips was to urge your child not to text or talk on the phone while walking. Drivers do not always consider the presence of children even on residential neighborhood streets during the hours that children go to and from school. There were 4600 ER injuries related to walking while distracted on the phone from 2019-2020.

Another important safety consideration is your child’s safety helmet. A safety helmet should be worn in connection with riding a scooter, skateboarding or biking to school. The CPSC release specified there were 144,100 bicycle injuries treated in the ER from 2017-2019 to children under age 16. It is necessary when playing football. Use of a safety helmet can prevent serious brain injuries under certain circumstances. You should check and make sure your child’s safety helmet is adequate and up to safety standards. Tragically, some recalls only occur after a child is catastrophically injured. When that is the case, it may be appropriate to pursue damages in a product liability lawsuit.

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Published on: September 6, 2021

Chicago Lawyers for Defective Bike Helmet Claims Around the Country

By Moll Law Group

On September 1, 2021, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that TurboSKE toddler bike helmets had been recalled. Around 860 units had been sold. The reason that these helmets were recalled was because they present a risk of head injury to small children. While this specific recall involved TurboSKE toddler bike helmets, as a parent you should be aware that other helmets kids wear have presented dangers and been subject to recall and warnings in the past. Traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures and other head injuries can dramatically alter a Chicago child’s future.

When your child wears a helmet that is defective such that he or she sustains serious injuries, you can pursue damages by filing a lawsuit. It’s important to retain an attorney who understands how to present your case persuasively to manufacturers, insurers, mediators and the court. If your child suffered head injuries in a bicycle accident and you suspect it was the result of manufacturing, design or marketing defects in the bike helmet being worn, you should call the experienced and compassionate Chicago-based product liability attorneys of the Moll Law Group.

As a parent in Chicago or another city, you may delight to teaching your toddler how to ride a tricycle or bicycle. Helmets are an important part of a parent’s instruction on riding a bike safely. Frequently, parents also put helmets on toddlers because the toddler is riding on a seat on the back of the parent’s own bicycle in traffic. A negligent driver of a larger vehicle may cause an accident that results in catastrophic or even fatal head and neck injuries. It is tragic when a child unknowingly wears a defective bike helmet and gets into a serious collision or spill.

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Published on: August 30, 2021

Chicago Consumers Should Be Aware of FDA Recall of Hand Sanitizers

By Moll Law Group

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were many questions about how best the public should protect itself. Among the recommendations were more frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing. Since then, there’s been a new Delta variant causing new surges, and yet there are some dangers consumers should be aware of when using hand sanitizers to guard against COVID-19 and its variants. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has built a fairly long list of recalled hand sanitizers. At last look, there are 255 different recalled hand sanitizers listed. Chicago consumers should stay aware of the potential harm of these products.

According to the FDA, around nine hand sanitizers produced in Mexico contained high levels of methanol. Methanol is produced from vegetation, microbes and volcanic gases. It’s often used as a solvent in various pharmaceuticals and as an industrial solvent for dyes, adhesives, resins, and inks. Importantly, consumers should be aware it is a chemical that may have detrimental effects whether exposure is short-term or long-term.

Symptoms of toxic exposure to methanol include vomiting, nausea, headache, permanent blindness, coma, seizures, permanent nervous system damage or death. If you were exposed to hand sanitizer that has methanol in it, you should get treated immediately.

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Published on: August 23, 2021

FDA Notifies Amazon It Is Distributing Defective Drugs

By Moll Law Group

In spite of its efforts to stop the distribution of dangerous weight loss and sexual enhancement products, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to discover weight loss and sexual enhancement products that violate the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act at various online stores. Consumers in Chicago and elsewhere should be wary of purchasing these types of products online.

The FDA has warned consumers about dangerous products available at online retailers for a decade, but in spite of efforts to improve safety in these spaces, violations persist. On July 26, 2021, the FDA issued a letter to let Amazon know that it was distributing weight loss and sexual enhancement products that violate the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The distributed products include hidden ingredients that could have harmful medical consequences.

The FDA sampled 26 products it bought on Amazon. It also sampled 25 products it bought on eBay. Alarmingly, the FDA found that all 26 of the drugs bought on Amazon contained undeclared active ingredients. 20 of 25 products purchased on eBay also did. None of the potentially harmful ingredients in these products is declared in the product labeling so that consumers know to seek physician supervision and advice with regard to them. For instance, an FDA lab analysis confirmed that X Rated Honey for Men includes tadalafil, which is the active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug Cialis. Likewise, analysis found tadalafil, the active ingredient in the FDA-approved prescription drug Cialis, in Adam’s Secret Extra Strength 2000 sold through online retailers.

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Published on: August 16, 2021

Benzene in Neutrogena Aerosol Sunscreen Products

By Moll Law Group

Aerosol-Sunscreen-Product Litigation has been filed against Johnson & Johnson after the discovery of benzene in their Neutrogena aerosol sunscreen products. A study by the pharmaceutical testing lab Valisure has revealed high concentrations of benzene in many sunscreen products. Two months later, Johnson & Johnson voluntarily recalled five of its Neutrogena and Aveeno aerosol sunscreens and warned consumers to stop using those products after they conducted internal testing that detected low-level benzene in certain sprays. Recently, plaintiffs petitioned the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation asking for the creation of a multidistrict litigation docket in connection with their claims. Those in Chicago who have been diagnosed with cancer and suspect it is related to sunscreen aerosol sprays in which benzene has been found should consult experienced product liability lawyers about whether they have claim.

These lawsuits include allegations that are almost identical. Specifically, they allege that the company’s sunscreen sprays are defective because they contain benzene. Benzene is harmful; as a carcinogen, it is linked to blood cancers.

Benzene was found in around 78 different batches of sunscreen and after-sun products for which benzene is not listed as an ingredient. The report specifies certain manufacturers whose products include benzene including:

Neutrogena
CVS Health
Banana Boat
BabyGanics
Coppertone
Walgreens
Aveeno

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Published on: May 22, 2020

Johnson & Johnson Stops Selling Its Talc-Based Baby Powder in the United States and Canada

By Moll Law Group

Earlier this week, U.S. consumer product manufacturing giant Johnson & Johnson announced that it will no longer be selling the company’s talc-based baby powder products in the United States and Canada. The announcement comes after years of litigation surrounding allegations that the company’s talc-based baby powder may cause cancer. The announcement also follows last year’s recall of a batch of baby powder that was found to have potentially unsafe levels of asbestos, the cancer-causing agent that was at the center of the litigation.

Photo Credit: SewCream/Shutterstock.com

According to a recent news report, Johnson & Johnson stands behind the safety of its baby powder, and claims to have decided to stop selling the product due to shifting consumer habits, rather than safety concerns. Along those lines, a Johnson & Johnson representative issued a statement explaining that the company “remains steadfastly confident in the safety of talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder” and that it will “vigorously defend the product, its safety, and the unfounded allegations against it and the company in the courtroom.”

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