Boston defective household products lawyer Tag Archives

November 21, 2017

Defective Furniture Results in Death of Children

Dangerous around the household that can cause injury to small children can include things like household chemicals such as liquid drain cleaner, cleaning products, sharp edges, electrical outlets, the strings used to raise vertical blinds and similar items. However, furniture can also pose a serious risk to small children when it is defectively designed, lacking features to ensure it is properly secured. If a product is defectively designed, or a hidden hazard is not conveyed to the consumer before an injury occurs, it can be grounds for a product liability lawsuit.

According to a recent news article from CNN, an eight child has died from as a result of a toppled dresser from IKEA. These dressers are the very popular MALM style units that come in a variety of sizes ranging from three to six drawers. These dressers were recalled in 2016, but injuries and deaths are still occurring.

It’s important to point out that a recall does not insulate a manufacturer from liability. However, the recall also can’t be used as proof positive the product was defective, as lawmakers and courts did not want to dissuade product makers from warning the public about potential dangers. That said, details that emerge following a product recall can be useful in a product liability lawsuit. Continue reading

November 15, 2017

Defective Household Products Cause Personal Injury in Boston

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

When you buy a product, you expect that it will work for the purpose in which it was intended. In some cases you end up with a defective product and are annoyed and have to try get your money back. When the product is not only defective but also dangerous, this can lead to serious personal injury and the need to file a Boston products liability lawsuit.

According to a recent news article from Fox News, Kidde, one of world’s largest manufacturers or fire smoke alarms and fire safety equipment has issued a recall on over 38 million fire extinguishers. The two models of handheld fire extinguishers are among the most popular models and the recall states that these products may fail to work as designed during a fire emergency.

December 5, 2016

Manufacturer Recalls Popular Brand of Smoke Alarms

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

We are constantly reminded that we should make sure there are working smoke alarms in our home and to test them and change the batteries on a regular basis. In some towns, members of the local fire department will even go door-to-door to provide this warning and to offer to come and test any smoke detectors. They will typically use a can of spray that is designed to set off a smoke alarm if it is working properly, since the machines are designed to detect the particulate matter in the smoke.

In addition to the smoke alarms, we are also warned that it is a good idea to also have a carbon monoxide detector in our homes, though often you can buy one detector that detects both smoke and elevated levels of carbon monoxide. These devices can save the life of you and your family if they are working properly, and that is why it is so important to not only have them, but to test them. Continue reading

April 15, 2016

Dehumidifier Fires and Burn Risk Prompt Record $15.45M Penalty Against Manufacturer

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The China-based Gree Electric Appliances Inc. and its partners have agreed to pay a $15.45 million civil penalty after U.S. regulators alleged the company’s dehumidifiers posed a fire and burn risk to consumers and the company failed to warn them or take immediate action to remedy the problem.

Gree manufactured and sold some 2.5 million dehumidifiers at big name stores throughout the country under more than a dozen different brand names. But when the company learned that its units were posting a fire and burn risk, it failed consumers and regulators on several fronts. Among those:

The company intentionally failed to report a defect and the unreasonable risk of severe injury to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) right away within 24 hours as required under federal law.
The company intentionally misrepresented key facts to investigators with CPSC as they were delving into the reported issues.
The company sold these products indicating they were UL safety certified, despite the fact it was known these products did not meet the basic UL flammability standards.

The devices were sold under highly-recognized brand names, such as GE, Kenmore, Frigidaire and Soleus Air. Continue reading