Defective & Dangerous Products

• Altimas Recalled by Nissan

  Shannon Weidemann | July 10, 2007 2:23 PM | 0 CommentsKansas City, MO

  Approximately 140,000 2007 model year Altimas have been recalled by Nissan. The defective cars have faulty air filters that could catch on fire. Nissan will be sending notice to all of the owners of the affected cars. The recall applies only to 2007 models with the 2.5 liter, four-cylinder engine. Nissan has taken four reports of engine fires since February. A posting by the National...

• Toothpaste Made in China is Recalled

  Shannon Weidemann | June 01, 2007 4:28 PM | 0 CommentsKansas City, MO

  The FDA has issued a warning alert to consumers to be on the lookout for toothpaste made in China. Toothpaste found at two dollar stores, one in Miami and the other in Puerto Rico. The recalled product may contain diethylene glycol, which is antifreeze.Officials said they are primarily concerned about toothpaste sold at bargain retail outlets. The ingredient in question, called DEG, is used as...

• Rat Poison to Blame for Recalled Pet Food

  Shannon Weidemann | March 27, 2007 12:35 PM | 0 CommentsKansas City, MO

  Over 90 brands of dog and cat food made by Menu Foods of Canada was recalled last week. The pet food has been linked to kidney failure and death in 15 cats and one dog. Veterinarians and pet owners fear the number could be much higher. The pet food has been tested and rat poison has been found in the food.Scientists at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University...

• Blood Pressure Drugs Linked to Birth Defects

  Staff Writer | June 13, 2006 8:33 AM | 0 CommentsKansas City, MO

  Thanks to Philadelphia personal injury lawyer Jamie Sheller for bringing to my attention a Public Health Advisory from the FDA. Last week, the agency announced a study in the New England Journal of Medicine has linked ACE inhibitors to an increased risk of birth defects when used in a woman's first trimester of pregnancy. ACE inhibitors are often prescribed to lower blood pressure - by blocking...

• Defective Product Suits Cost Ford Millions

  Staff Writer | February 16, 2006 3:56 PM | 0 CommentsKansas City, MO

  Ford's litigation policy of refusing to settle defective product claims reportedly cost the automaker over $255 Million. Hopefully these large jury verdicts will send a message that the public is not going to tolerate corporate irresponsibility any longer. You can read more about this story in the St. Louis Post Dispatch.I believe that large corporations adopt this type of strategy hoping that...

• Welding Rods and Worksite Litigation

  Staff Writer | February 07, 2006 5:39 PM | 1 CommentKansas City, MO

  Recently, a welder filed a lawsuit against the makers of welding products. His lawsuit contends that welding products which contain manganese caused him to suffer neurological problems, including Parkinson's Disease. The lawsuit claims that exposure to manganese for as little as 49 days can cause neurological damage. The plaintiff has alleged that the defendants concealed safety data on the...

• Court Orders Access to Defective Product Documents

  Staff Writer | January 25, 2006 4:43 PM | 0 CommentsKansas City, MO

  Guidant, the maker of heart defibrillators is facing several lawsuits alleging that it knew its defibrillators were defective. Recently a judge ordered that Guidant produce to the plaintiffs various documents which purportedly reveal that Guidant continued to sell the product after they knew of the defects. The San Jose Mecury News has recently reported that part of the documents to be...

• Failue to Disclose Defective Condition Allows Suit to go Forward

  Staff Writer | January 20, 2006 9:42 AM | 0 CommentsKansas City, MO

  In a case of first impression, the Missouri Court of Apppeals has recently ruled in Thompson, et al. v. Higginbotham, et al. that a builder who was also at one time the owner of an apartment building cannot use the 10 year statutue of limitation ("SOL") as a defense to a claim for defective balcony when the builder failed to disclose the condition.In the Thompson case several individuals were...

• Rertrial Ordered In GM Defective Products Lawsuit

  Staff Writer | January 18, 2006 10:09 AM | 0 CommentsKansas City, MO

  Citing several trial errors, 11 Kansas City appellate judges overturned (with a 10-1 ruling) an $80 million award in a defective cruise control lawsuit against General Motors. In September 2000, Constance Peters was left in a vegetative state after an accident in which her car sped up while backing out of her driveway.Peters remained in that vegetative state until her death 3 1/2 years later. ...