Product Defects
December 23, 2017 |
By Pickett Dummigan McCall
By Nancy Picasso Shopping for toys this Holiday season and trusting the toys on shelves is something consumers are thinking about. Trouble in Toyland is an annual toy safety survey done by the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). In TROUBLE IN TOYLAND 2017, this year’s 32nd annual release report, emphasizes toy warnings such as excessive […]
April 21, 2015 |
By R. Brendan Dummigan of Pickett Dummigan LLP
The Takata airbag recall is expanding. For those who have not been keeping up with the news, some of the airbags found in Nissan vehicles have been exploding in the faces of the people they are meant to protect. Instead of creating a cushion to reduce the force of impact, these airbags shoot metal shrapnel […]
March 4, 2015 |
By R. Brendan Dummigan of Pickett Dummigan LLP
THE MAN WHO CRIED HORSE$#!+. By Ron K. Cheng Some lawsuits are so sensational that they have become mythic in proportion. These lawsuits are often misconstrued and distorted by tort reformers to show how the court system is being abused. Reality however, tends to tell a different story. These so-called “frivolous lawsuits” may not be […]
December 19, 2014 |
By R. Brendan Dummigan of Pickett Dummigan LLP
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that over 25,000 residential fires and more than 300 deaths are caused each year by space heaters. Some of these fires could have been prevented had the heaters been used correctly. As the temperature gets colder, more and more people are starting to use space heaters to keep […]
November 19, 2014 |
By R. Brendan Dummigan of Pickett Dummigan LLP
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called on automakers to conduct a nationwide recall of vehicles that contain driver’s side airbags made by the Japanese company Takata. If automakers fail to act, NHTSA has stated that it will use “the full extent of its statutory powers” to compel action. This announcement reflects a […]
November 7, 2014 |
By R. Brendan Dummigan of Pickett Dummigan LLP
The New York Times reported today that Japanese airbag manufacturer, Takata knew as far back as 2004 that its airbags were defective. According to former employees, Takata tested dozens of airbags it salvaged from junkyards after it learned that the steel inflator in one of its manufactured airbags exploded and ruptured the airbag injuring an […]
October 24, 2014 |
By R. Brendan Dummigan of Pickett Dummigan LLP
Pickett Dummigan LLP has learned that 7.8 million vehicles in the U.S. are subject to recall by several auto manufacturers to replace defective airbags. According to Safety Research & Strategies Technologies (SRS), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a Consumer Advisory that is “urging owners of certain Toyota, Honda, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, Mitsubishi, […]
October 24, 2014 |
By R. Brendan Dummigan of Pickett Dummigan LLP
Trinity Industries, a maker of highway guardrails, was found by a jury on Monday to have defrauded the government by making unauthorized design changes to their ET-Plus guardrails. The original guardrails were sold to the government and have lined our highways for decades. However, in 2005, the company changed the design of the guardrail “rail […]
August 5, 2014 |
By R. Brendan Dummigan of Pickett Dummigan LLP
The seasonal beer “Swill” has been found to explode in the bottles they come in. “Swill” is a fruit beer made by 10 Barrel Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon. These beer bottle explosions can send shards of glass flying into the air. Although there have been no reported serious injuries, consumers have had close calls […]
March 27, 2014 |
By R. Brendan Dummigan of Pickett Dummigan LLP
General Motors (GM) is being investigated by Congress for delaying a product recall when GM was aware of ignition-switch defects. The defects affected six models manufactured between 2003 and 2007. These models are: 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalts; the 2007 Pontiac G5; 2003-2007 Saturn Ions; 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHRs; 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstices and the 2007 Saturn Sky. The […]