"product liability"

Published on: December 18, 2024

Self-Driving Taxis in Miami? A Look Back at Motor Vehicle Crash Litigation at Leesfield & Partners

Thanks to recent advancements in autonomous vehicle technology, self-driving cars are no longer a thing of the past, and driverless robotaxis may soon be available for transit in Miami.

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Alphabet, Google’s parent company, announced it expects to bring these taxis to Miami, making the city the fifth in the U.S. with this service. The company currently boasts 150,000 weekly rides, all without drivers, in cities like San Francisco, Austin, Phoenix and Los Angeles.

The decision, however, has not come without controversy. A federal investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation into Waymo vehicle collisions with a fixed object in May. In addition to these collisions, incidents in which the cars allegedly went the wrong way down the road and ran through traffic lights are what prompted the investigation.

Published on: November 18, 2024

Organic Carrots Recalled Following Link to Deadly E. Coli Outbreak.

By Leesfield & Partners

At least one person has died and 38 others fell ill from E.coli linked to organic baby carrots.

The outbreaks started on Sept. 6 with more sprouting up until Oct. 28 in 18 states, though numbers may be higher and consumers in other states may also be affected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Sunday. Minnesota, New York and Washington were the states with the most outbreaks as of Monday morning.

Following investigations, it was concluded that Grimmway Farms, a Bakersfield, California, company that is the one of the largest producers of organic carrots in the world, was the supplier of the carrots people consumed before they got sick.

Published on: October 21, 2024

Here’s Why Fisher-Price is Recalling Over 2 Million ‘Unsafe’ Infant Swings all over North America.

By Leesfield & Partners

Following the tragic deaths of at least five infants across the United States, Fisher-Price is recalling 2 million swings over suffocation risks.

The concern lies with the company’s Snuga Swing products, which feature pillows depicting different animals, such as raccoons, cats, bears, and puppies, on which parents can lay their infants down before clipping them safely inside. Included in the recall are replacement sleep pads for these swings.

Similar products appeared to still be for sale Wednesday online at retailers such as Walmart and Poshmark, retailing anywhere from $50 for used products to over $100 for new ones. In reporting from CNN, some of the recalled swings were allegedly for sale for $160.

Published on: September 23, 2024

Broward Teen Charged in Friend’s Accidental Shooting Death, police say

By Leesfield & Partners

One teen charged, another killed after the two were playing with a loaded gun at an apartment in Broward County, officials say.

The incident happened around 2:30 p.m. Monday. The teen who was hit was identified by police in reporting by The Miami Herald as 16-year-old Christopher Granados. He was taken to the hospital by emergency responders where he was pronounced dead.

The other boy involved in the incident, who was not named, was charged Tuesday with manslaughter.

Published on: September 17, 2024

Apple Juices Recalled in Nationwide Stores for Elevated Levels of this Chemical, FDA says. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Apple juice sold under numerous brands at stores all over the country, including Walmart, Aldi, BJ’s and others, is under FDA recalls over concerns of potentially harmful levels of arsenic, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The recall comes after an FDA report that included almost 10,000 cases of Great Value 100% Apple Juice that “contains inorganic arsenic above action level set in guidance to industry.”

A total of 133,500 cases of juice were recalled on Monday that had been sold under various brand names. In June 2023, the FDA made changes to its Final Guidance to Industry on Action Level for Inorganic Arsenic in Apple Juice. The current action level is 10 parts per billion (ppb).

Published on: August 15, 2024

Pregnant woman files lawsuit after she was exposed to Listeria, alleging Boar’s Head products are to blame.

By Leesfield & Partners

A pregnant woman has filed a lawsuit after she claims she was hospitalized due to an illness brought on by Boar’s Head products following a recall of certain deli meats from the brand due to listeria.

The recall was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Services after an investigation in Maryland by the Maryland Department of Health and the Baltimore City Health Department. Data collected by the Centers for Disease Control shows that at least 43 people have been affected by the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, a serious food infection contracted via food contamination. At least three people have died, according to the CDC.

Listeria can cause stillbirths and miscarriages in pregnant people. Other symptoms include fever, flu-like symptoms, a stiff neck, seizures, headaches, and or a loss of balance.

Published on: July 9, 2024

A 45-year-old Washington man was killed lighting holiday fireworks. How to celebrate safely.

By Leesfield & Partners

A Washington man was found unresponsive after the fireworks he was lighting accidentally hit him in the head, knocking him unconscious, according to reporting from local news outlets.

The incident happened around 2:30 a.m. on July 5 as the man lit mortar-style fireworks, a kind of firework legal in Washington that explodes into stars once the fuse has been lit. Emergency responders pronounced the man dead at the scene. In Florida, it is illegal to use fireworks that contain shells, mortars, multiple tube devices, Roman candles, firecrackers, and rockets.

Firework Injuries & Deaths in the United States

Published on: April 8, 2019

CPSC Warning Issued for Fisher-Price Rock ’n Play sleeper after tenth infant death is not enough

By Leesfield & Partners

On April 5th, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning to consumers about the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play after another infant death, the tenth tragedy in less than 4 years.

The statement warns that infants aged 3 months or older, who are able to roll over while seated unrestrained in the Fisher-Price sleep, will be able to turn to their stomach or on their side and suffocate. CPSC recommends consumers to stop using the product when the infant is three months of age, or as soon as an infant exhibits rollover capabilities.

Needless to say, additional steps must be taken to reach as many consumers as possible. Many parents will continue to use the product unless Fisher-Price reaches out to or attempts to reach out to all of them.

Published on: August 29, 2017

Leesfield & Partners ramps up “Drop Fire” / Accidental Gun Discharge practice

By Leesfield & Partners

Since 2014, Leesfield & Partners has represented multiple victims of accidental gun discharge, including by “drop fire” where a loaded firearm discharges upon impact with the floor without the trigger ever being pulled.

The increase in accidental gun discharge cases has gone hand-in-hand with the increase in gun sales in the United States – and the numbers are telling. Between 2006 and 2016, the number of firearms processed by the National Firearms Act Branch (NFA) which maintains the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record has skyrocketed. In 2006, the NFA processed 296,127 firearms. In 2016, that number jumped by 850% with 2,538,397 processed firearms.

Why has this unprecedented increase in gun sales resulted in the explosion of accidental gun discharge cases in last decade?

Published on: April 1, 2016

Don’t Forget to Read the Owner’s Manual, Trial Lawyers!

By Leesfield & Partners

We all know that consumer products can be dangerous if used improperly. Everything from vacuum cleaners to jet skis have large, orange warning decals posted on them instructing users, “READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL PRIOR TO USE.” In the owner’s manual, users will find an extensive composition of warnings, diagrams, and instructions for the safe use of the product.

Owner’s manuals are often the focal point in product liability cases where it is alleged that a product is dangerous or the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings. In such cases, trial lawyers will introduce owner’s manuals to point out the adequacy or inadequacy of warnings and instructions.

Surprisingly, owner’s manuals are largely ignored by trial lawyers in personal injury cases involving presumptively safe consumer products. Our firm has handled many cases in which hotels, attractions, and tour operators have severely injured our clients by misusing consumer products. Parasailing ropes break, picture frame supports fail, beach umbrellas fly into guests, bungee cords snap, and the list goes on.