All Topics

• Chicago Woman Sues City over Son's Wrongful Death

  David Rowell | August 14, 2007 9:31 AM | 0 CommentsFresno, CA

  A Chicago woman whose son was killed during a police chase has sued the City for wrongful death, claiming the officers executed her son. The mother of 18-year-old Aaron Harrison alleges her son was unarmed when an officer chased and shot him in an alley on Chicago's West Side on Aug. 6. Police have said Harrison pointed a 9 mm handgun at the officer and was shot after he ignored orders to drop...

• Wrongful Death Lawuit Filed Against Anderson Hospital

  Shannon Weidemann | July 18, 2007 11:33 AM | 0 CommentsFresno, CA

  A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Illinois. A man died there in March of 2006 and his family claims the hospital was negligent in his treatment and that led to his death. According to Kusmierczak, Anderson negligently and carelessly failed to notify Scott's physician of no bowel sounds prior to starting him on a clear liquid diet on the date of...

• Organic Baby Food Recalled by Gerber

  Shannon Weidemann | July 18, 2007 10:31 AM | 0 CommentsFresno, CA

  A voluntary product recall has been issued for Gerber's Organic Rice and Oatmeal cereals for babies. There is a concern that all of the cereal does not dissolve in water or milk leaving lumps that may pose a choking hazard. The FDA says it agrees with the voluntary recall, which includes nearly 500,000 packages.Customers can call the baby food giant to get a refund. The number is...

• CPSC Recalls Millions of Toys for Lead Paint Violation

  David Rowell | October 02, 2007 1:00 PM | 0 CommentsFresno, CA

  In June, the Consumer Products Safety Commission announced the recall of about 1.5 million defective products, toys, for violation of the lead paint standard, which poses very serious health risks to children. The recall concerned "Thomas & Friends" wooden railway toys manufactured in China and imported by RC2 Corporation of Oak Brook, Illinois. Last week the CPSC announced the recall of an...

• Doll Strollers Recalled After Child's Finger Severed

  David Rowell | October 01, 2007 11:14 AM | 0 CommentsFresno, CA

  The Consumer Products Safety Commission has announced the voluntary recall of children's doll strollers by Lan Enterprises, of Beverton, Oregon. The strollers, sold by Pottery Barn Kids, pose a risk of finger amputation for children. Pottery Barn Kids has received reports of three serious injuries, including one partial finger amputation on a 2 year old boy. CPSC cautions consumers to...

• Food Safety Inspections No Better After E. coli Deaths

  David Rowell | September 13, 2007 8:54 PM | 0 CommentsFresno, CA

  Last year, a deadly contamination of spinach by E. coli bacteria led to the death of 3 people and more than 200 sick. Following the outbreak there were widespread calls for better testing of companies handling leafy greens. That hasn't happened, though; State inspectors in California have not been given authority to conduct better inspections, and federal inspections are at the same pre-outbreak...

• More Defective Products from China

  David Rowell | August 28, 2007 7:10 PM | 0 CommentsFresno, CA

  The problems with lead paint on children's toys continue to mount. Today the Consumer Products Safety Commission announced the recall of a child's "Robie Ducky Watering Can," made in China and containing lead paint. The defective product is sold exclusively by Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. The CPSC advised partents to immediately take the watering can away from children and return it to any...

• China Says "It Wasn't Me"

  David Rowell | August 27, 2007 6:35 PM | 0 CommentsFresno, CA

  When I was in law school, one of my study partners was a guy who'd been a cop for a long time, and he talked about the "some other dude" defense, which goes like this: when he'd snatch up some bad guy, often the bad guy would say "it wasn't me, it was 'some other dude.'" Although my friend didn't think much of the defense, apparently the Chinese government likes it.As reported by the Associated...

• Who's Watching for Defective Products?

  David Rowell | August 27, 2007 2:02 PM | 0 CommentsFresno, CA

  Most people are familiar with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and know that it is the government agency charged with protecting consumers from dangerous products. But in an editorial in the Washington Post on Sunday, Ann Brown, former chair of the CSPC, and Pamela Gilbert, former executive director, charge that the Commission has been "neutered almost to the point of uselessness." If the...

• Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Texas Pastor

  David Rowell | August 24, 2007 11:16 AM | 0 CommentsFresno, CA

  The parents of a Waco teacher have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her husband, a minister. The parents allege that the fomer pastor of a Baptist church in Lorena, Texas was having an affair, and that he killed his wife and made it look like suicide. They say newly discovered evidence shows that the victim's death was murder, not suicide. An inquest into the death has been ordered, and 11...