New York Noncompete, Trade Secret & School Negligence Blog

In Partisan Vote, CPSC Approves New Consumer Website for Product Complaints

Author of the Free Guide to Defective Product Cases in New York, "Why Are There So Few Successful Defective Products Lawsuits?" (www.ProductsLiabilityBook.com), Long Island and Queens defective products lawyer Jonathan Cooper discusses the announcement of the launch of the Consumer Products Safety Commission's new consumer complaints database, www.saferproducts.gov. For additional information on this topic, please contact Jonathan Cooper directly at 516-791-5700.

Fan Hit By Broken Bat Sues NY Mets, MLB and Bat Manufacturer For Defective Bats

Long Island, New York accident and defective product attorney Jonathan Cooper discusses a product liability case that was recently brought against Major League Baseball the New York Mets and a baseball bat manufacturer by a fan who was hit in the face by a broken bat, and suffered severe personal injuries. For additional information on how product liability actions are analyzed under New York law, please download a Free copy of Jonathan Cooper's book, Why Are There So Few Successful Defective Products Lawsuits? from www.ProductsLiabilityBook.com, or contact Jonathan Cooper directly at 516-791-5700.

Why It's So Important to Find Qualified Experts in a NY Products Liability Case

Long Island, New York products liability and defective baby products lawyer Jonathan Cooper discusses how a recent decision from one of New York's appellate courts highlights why hiring appropriately qualified experts is absolutely critical to the success of a products liability case in New York. For additional information on this topic, please see https://www.jonathancooperlaw.com/library/the-most-important-issue-before-you-start-a-ny-products-liability-case.cfm, or contact Jonathan Cooper directly at 516-791-5700.

NY Jury Finds Clothing Retailer Negligent, But Not Liable, For Plaintiff's Burns

In this article, Long Island, NY products liability lawyer Jonathan Cooper discusses how in one recent case, a NY jury held that the defendant was negligent - but not liable - for failing to test properly the product that they sold. For additional, general information on product liability cases under New York law, please visit www.ProductsLiabilityBook.com.

CPSC Launches New Product Registration Initiative - But They Can - And Should - Do Better

In this article, Long Island, New York children's safety and defective products attorney Jonathan Cooper discusses how the CPSC's newest initiative to improve product registrations is welcome, but falls short of the mark in enhancing the defective product recall process. For additional information on these topics, please download Jonathan Cooper's Free eBook entitled "Why Are There So Few Successful Defective Products Lawsuits?" from www.ProductLiabilityBook.com.

CPSC Announces Largest Defective Children's Crib Recall Ever

Published author of the Insider's Guide to Product Liability Claims entitled "Why There Are So Few Successful Defective Products Lawsuits," discusses the largest children's crib recall in history. For additional articles and valuable information on crib recalls and other defective product recalls generally, please visit Long Island, New York Defective Products Lawyer's website and blog at www.JonathanCooperLaw.com.

As reported in our news section, earlier this week, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, in a joint announcement with its sister organization, Health Canada, announced that nearly 90,000 gas grills were recalled after they had collectively received a whopping 161 reports of fires, burn injuries, and other assorted personal injuries, including loss of hearing, due to the defective design of these Chinese-made grills. And these complaints were all logged in less than 3 years.

Apparently, the fire hazard with this particular product, the Blue Ember Gas Grill, is that the gas tank's hose is set too close to the firebox.

In analyzing this news story, two questions immediately come to mind - and its not the first time we've raised these issues (see "CPSC's Recall of (Yet Another) Defective Crib Raises Questions About Recall System in General"):

1. Why did it take so many reports of grill fires before this latest round of the recall became effective?; and,
2. Why didn't the first round of recalls of this product in 2008 solve this problem?

The fact that these questions need to be asked is certainly troubling.

How Product Safety Recalls Can Help Prove A Defective Products Case in NY

Long Island, New York product safety recall and defective fan attorney Jonathan Cooper discusses how a government recall of a product can be helpful and effective in proving a product liability case under New York law. For additional information on this topic, as well as products liability cases in general, please order a copy of Jonathan Cooper's FREE guide to defective products cases, Why There Are So Few Successful Defective Products Lawsuits, by going to www.ProductsLiabilityBook.com.

On July 2, the Consumer Products Safety Commission, in conjunction with Aqua-Leisure Industries, recalled over 4 million children's inflatable boats and rafts, after they received over 30 complaints that the straps which secure the children's legs had a tendency to rip, causing the children to fall into the water. Although, thankfully, no drowning incidents have been reported due to this problem, it bears repeating that in terms of New York law governing defective products (or "products liability"), this is a classic example of a design defect. For additional information on what factors determine what a plaintiff must prove to succeed on a defective products claim, you can download the free eBook, "Why There Are So Few Successful Defective Products Lawsuits."

On June 10, the Consumer Products Safety Commission, or CPSC, announced yet another recall of a children's crib after finding that a defect in the design of this crib, particularly the faillure of spring pins, caused the crib's drop side to become completely detached from the crib, thereby posing both a strangulation and fall hazard to infants.

While that seems fair enough, the question that both puzzles and frightens me is this: why did it take over 30 reports of the drop side of the crib failing before the recall was issued? Stated differently, considering the manifest danger posed by many children's products - and cribs in particular - why wasn't the (investigation concluded and) recall issued earlier?

Thankfully, from the statement issued by the CPSC regarding this particular product recall, it does not appear that they have received reports of anyone being seriously injured by this product. But given the numbers, it seems that this is in many respects due to good fortune rather than good practice.