North Carolina Product Liability Blog : June 2008

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Tire Valve Recall

Posted on June 25, 2008 by Law Office of D. Hardison Wood

Tech International, a distributor based in Ohio, has announced that it is recalling 6 million tire valves. These tire valves were manufactured by China based, Shanghai Baolong Industries Co. The recall notice stated that stems could crack and cause a gradual reduction in tire pressure. Of course it is very difficult to figure out who has these types of valves on their tires.

"Tech International does not know the identity of any end-users of the TR413 valves and has no realistic method of determining the identity of such individuals. Furthermore, there is no realistic method for Tech International to identify the production dates of any specific TR413 valves," the company said in its letter to NHTSA.

There is a push for people to inspect their tires, valves for any cracks, and to check the tire pressure.

"Air loss at highway speeds may result in a tire failure and loss-of-control crash," said Sean Kane, president of Safety Research and Strategies.
Read the entire article found in the Detroit News.

Tags: Crashworthiness, Product Liability, recall, tires, valve

Crib Recall

Posted on June 25, 2008 by Law Office of D. Hardison Wood

About 320,000 Jardine Cribs sold at Babies R Us have been recalled according to an announcement by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. According to the press release, the cribs' slats and spindles can break causing a gap which may lead to entrapment or strangulation of babies.There are several models included. The press release can be read here.

Tags: Child Safety, crib, cribs, infant, liability, products, recall, safety

Car Seat Recall

Posted on June 15, 2008 by Law Office of D. Hardison Wood

Chicco, USA has recalled the bases to approximately 18,000 of their infant rear-facing car seats.
Here are the details found on the Office of Defects Investigations website:

Component: CHILD SEAT:BASE (INFANT)

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 18000

Summary:
CHICCO USA, INC. IS RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 18,000 BASES USED IN KEYFIT AND KEYFIT 30 REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS AND IN CORTINA TRAVEL SYSTEMS, AND STAND-ALONE BASES FOR THESE SYSTEMS PURCHASED SEPARATELY, THAT WERE MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 26 AND MARCH 17, 2008. SOME OF THESE BASES HAVE A DEFECT THAT CAN PREVENT THE BASE FROM BEING TIGHTLY SECURED TO A VEHICLE WHEN THE LOWER LATCH ATTACHMENTS ARE USED AS A METHOD OF INSTALLATION. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN A DEFECTIVE BASE IS INSTALLED WITH THE LOWER LATCH ATTACHMENT STRAPS, THE WEBBING USED TO TIGHTEN THE BASE TO THE VEHICLE SEAT CAN SLIP THROUGH THE ADJUSTMENT LOCK.

Consequence:
IF THE WEBBING WERE TO SLIP DURING A VEHICLE CRASH, THE BASE COULD MOVE, POSSIBLY INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Tags: Child Safety, base, car, infant, recall, seat

Crib Mattress Recall

Posted on June 8, 2008 by Law Office of D. Hardison Wood

The CPSC announced June 5,2008 that Simmons Kids was recalling about 20,000 crib mattresses due to an entrapment hazard.

Description: The recalled mattresses involve open coil crib mattresses manufactured between July 1, 2006 and March 23, 2008 with a color label attached to the top or side of the mattress that has the following model names:

Pottery Barn Kids by Simmons Kids Lullaby

Simmons Kids Slumber Time Evening Star Luxury Firm

Simmons Kids Baby Mattress Series 400

Simmons Kids Baby Mattress 234 Coil Count

The crib mattresses also have a law tag that is sewn into the edge of the mattress. The law tag has the date of manufacture and in most cases will contain one of the following model numbers: H59044.15.0014, M59082.15.0002, M59027.15.0002 or M59065.15.0006. Pocketed Coils® and Simmons Kids or Simmons Juvenile Products crib mattresses manufactured before July 1, 2006 or after March 23, 2008 are not included in the recall.

Read the notice here.

Tags: Child Safety, crib, entrapment, hazard, mattress, recall

Vehicle Recalls

Posted on June 7, 2008 by Law Office of D. Hardison Wood

Below are a few safety defect and non compliance notices received in the month of May 2008. The entire report may be accessed here.

False Park:
GM IS RECALLING 26 MY 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6T70 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION CASE SIDE BORE THAT HOLDS THE PARK PAWL PIVOT PIN MAY HAVE A CASTING POROSITY. THIS CONDITION, COUPLED WITH NORMAL OPERATING STRESSES, COULD LEAD TO FAILURE, ELIMINATING THE ABILITY TO SECURE THE TRANSMISSION IN 'PARK' POSITION.

Brake Failure:
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 1,585 MY 2007-2008 JEEP WRANGLER, RIGHT HAND DRIVE ONLY, VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND REAR BRAKE TUBES. Consequence:
PROLONGED BRAKE TUBE CONTACT COULD WEAR A HOLE IN THE TUBE AND CAUSE A PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS. THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Tags: GM, May, ODI, Product Liability, car, false, jeep, park, recalls

North Carolina Product Liability Blog
D. Hardison Wood, Esq. | 1400 Crescent Green Drive, Suite 100 | Cary, NC 27518 | Phone: 877.829.7211

North Carolina Product Liability Lawyer & Attorney, D. Hardison Wood, offering services related to product liability, toy safety, child restraint, car seats, seat belt safety, crash worthiness, SUV rollovers and occupant restraint to the cities of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Wilmington, Greensboro, High Point, Asheville, Charlotte and the Triangle, Triad and RTP.

North Carolina Product Liability Blog : North Carolina Product Liability Lawyer & Attorney : D. Hardison Wood : Toy Safety, Child Restraint, Car Seats

Published By
D. Hardison Wood, Esq.

Child safety, crash worthiness, and product liability matters

Tire Valve Recall

Crib Recall

Car Seat Recall

Crib Mattress Recall

Vehicle Recalls

Component: CHILD SEAT:BASE (INFANT)
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 18000
Summary: CHICCO USA, INC. IS RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 18,000 BASES USED IN KEYFIT AND KEYFIT 30 REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS AND IN CORTINA TRAVEL SYSTEMS, AND STAND-ALONE BASES FOR THESE SYSTEMS PURCHASED SEPARATELY, THAT WERE MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 26 AND MARCH 17, 2008. SOME OF THESE BASES HAVE A DEFECT THAT CAN PREVENT THE BASE FROM BEING TIGHTLY SECURED TO A VEHICLE WHEN THE LOWER LATCH ATTACHMENTS ARE USED AS A METHOD OF INSTALLATION. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN A DEFECTIVE BASE IS INSTALLED WITH THE LOWER LATCH ATTACHMENT STRAPS, THE WEBBING USED TO TIGHTEN THE BASE TO THE VEHICLE SEAT CAN SLIP THROUGH THE ADJUSTMENT LOCK.
Consequence: IF THE WEBBING WERE TO SLIP DURING A VEHICLE CRASH, THE BASE COULD MOVE, POSSIBLY INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.