- David Rowell | August 28, 2007 7:10 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsThe 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...
- David Rowell | August 27, 2007 6:35 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsWhen 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...
- David Rowell | August 27, 2007 2:02 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsMost 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...
- David Rowell | August 26, 2007 12:04 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsA 17 year old girl from Downey was killed Saturday night in a fatal auto accident in Southern California. The girl and two other teens were passengers in a pickup truck being driven by an 18 year old male, also from Downey. Police say the driver, who had been drinking, veered suddenly to the left and struck the center divider, causing the truck to roll several times. Two passengers, who were not...
- David Rowell | August 25, 2007 8:54 PM |
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Wrongful DeathThe family of a Sebastopol teenager killed by Sonoma County Sheriff's Deputies has filed a wrongful death claim agailnst Sonoma County, the deputies, Sonoma County Sheriff's Department and others. The family of the slain teenager says the deputies used unnecessary force, causing the death. Sonoma County Sheriff Bill Coghill says the deputies used only the amount of force needed in a...
- David Rowell | August 24, 2007 11:16 AM |
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Wrongful DeathThe 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...
- David Rowell | August 24, 2007 11:02 AM |
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Wrongful DeathA jury awarded $25.8 million on Friday to the family of Beth Hippely, who died as a result of a prescription error at a Walgreen's pharmacy. The victim had the prescription filled at a Walgreen pharmacy in 2002. A pharmacy technician gave her the wrong medication, and she developed a stroke and died several years later. Her family filed a wrongful death suit in 2003, claiming that the pharmacy...
- David Rowell | August 24, 2007 10:51 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsRobert Oakley, a former employee of Houston Chemical, filed suit on August 16, 2007, in the U.S. Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Oakley, who worked as a laboratory technician, operator, pipe fitter and mechanic, claims that he was exposed for 51 years to toxic chemicals and carcinogens, including naptha, toluene, benzene and products containing benzene. Oakley was diagnosed with cancer...
- David Rowell | August 24, 2007 10:40 AM |
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Property Owner's Liability (Slip & Fall)Delores Walker, of Chicago, filed a lawsuit against a Wendy's Restaurant in Chicago recently, seeking in excess of $50,000.00 in damages resulting from a slip-and-fall incident. Walker claims that Wendy's failed to inspect and maintain the restaurant, among other things, causeing her to fall and suffer permanent injuries.For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on...
- David Rowell | August 23, 2007 8:30 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsIt's not just the lead paint on the toys; now it's dangerous levels of lead in candy! State health officials announced on Wednesday that Mexican candy sold under the names Barrilito and Miguelito contain dangerous levels of lead. According to officials at the Dpartment of Public Health, the candies could be harmful to infants, young children and pregnant women. These dangerous products are...
- David Rowell | August 23, 2007 1:24 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsA man was killed in a deadly motorcycle accident Wednesday night about 9:30 p.m. when he lost control of his vehicle and skidded across Indio Boulevard. No other vehicles were involved, and the police reported no signs of speeding or alcohol. The driver died at the scene.For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.
- David Rowell | August 23, 2007 1:20 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsA 22 year old man from Sacramento was killed in a deadly auto accident on Wednesday morning when he lost control of his speeding truck, hit the center divider, and was ejected from the vehicle when it rolled. The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. Witnesses reported seeing drug paraphernalia at the scene of the accident.For more information on this subject matter,...
- David Rowell | August 23, 2007 1:05 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsIn a deadly auto accident on Saturday, Danika Hayashi was driving southbound on Highway 395 in Kern County, at about 70 mph, when she decided to pass another southbound vehicle. Maybe she didn't look before passing, maybe she was just careless, but after she entered the northbound lane and saw a northbound vehicle approaching, she moved even further, into the northbound shoulder; there she lost...
- David Rowell | August 22, 2007 9:16 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsA woman was seriously injured in a "car versus pedestrian" auto accident Tuesday morning. The woman was crossing Tulare Street, in the sidewalk, when she was hit and run over by a man making a left turn. The driver of the vehicle said he didn't realize that he had hit the woman, and kept driving for a short time, rolling over the victim. Police are investigating the incident.For more information...
- David Rowell | August 21, 2007 1:46 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsMost people have by now heard about the defective products sold by Mattel, Inc., i.e., millions of toys made in China which are covered with lead paint, a potent neurotoxin. Those toys could lead to severe brain damage in millions of American children. On Monday, a Philadelphia law firm filed suit against Mattel in Los Angeles County, in part seeking to set up a medical monitoring fund which...
- David Rowell | August 20, 2007 4:28 PM |
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Wrongful DeathA 76 year old Kern County woman died from West Nile virus, the third West Nile death in Kern County this year. Although there is nothing to suggest wrongdoing by Kern County officials, that is not the case in Butte County. In Chico, a woman whose husband died from West Nile has filed a wrongful death suit against the City, claiming that the City knew of an increased risk of infection because of...
- David Rowell | August 19, 2007 4:49 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsIn a deadly automobile accident on Saturday night in Fresno, a motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed collied with an SUV, killing the driver and another. The motorcycle was travelling so fast it caused the Yukon to overturn. The driver was thrown into the SUV, killing himself and a passenger. Investigators say alcohol was not a factor in the accident. One passenger from the SUV was also...
- David Rowell | August 19, 2007 2:00 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsFor some time now the FDA has been investigating problems with the popular diabetes drug Avandia, including heart attacks, fluid build up and heart failure. Despite these concerns the FDA decided not to remove Avandia from the market, However, on Friday the FDA announced that GlaxoSmithKline Plc, maker of Avandia, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., which makes the drug Actos, have agreed to...
- David Rowell | August 17, 2007 9:03 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsMattel, which manufactures Barbie dolls and Hot Wheel cars, on Tuesday recalled almost 500,000 die-cast toy cars with "impermissible levels of lead." This is Mattel's second recall in a month; on August 2 Mattel recalled almost 1,000,000 toys, of various product lines, also because the toys were "covered in lead paint." Despite Mattel's efforts to stop distribution of the toys, almost 300,000 of...
- David Rowell | August 16, 2007 8:20 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsMassive amounts of food, about $65 billion, are imported into the US annually, and the number is growing each year. The recent discovery of tainted pet food ingredients that sickened or killed some 39,000 American pets, illustrates how important the issue is. And yet, in the face of increasing consumer concern, the government is about to implement rules that will replicate and lock-in the...
- David Rowell | August 16, 2007 9:37 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsFord Motor Company last week announced the recall of 3.6 millon vehicles containing a switch which deactivates the speed control mechanism in certain Ford cars and trucks. Although Ford says the voluntary recall was because of uncertainty about "the long term durability of these switches," an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was underway at the time of the...
- David Rowell | August 15, 2007 6:43 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsA motor vehicle accident in Kern County on Monday killed two people, including a five month old infant, and injured three others seriously. The injured victims were air-lifted to Kern Valley Medical Center. According to the Highway Patrol, the collision occurred when the driver of a Chevy Impala lost control, drifted across the center-line, and was struck by a Toyota Avalon. California Highway...
- David Rowell | August 14, 2007 9:31 AM |
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Wrongful DeathA 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...