Consumer Product Safety Commission -

At the request of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, Chicago Century Furniture Corporation (formerly the Chicago Furniture Corporation) has announced a voluntary recall for approximately 340 Century Mattresses due to their failure to comply with federal safety regulations regarding mattress flammability. Twin, full, queen, and king size mattresses, imprinted with model number MG0006, are being voluntarily recalled because they do not meet fire safety guidelines set forth by the federal government in relation to open flame standards, and therefore pose a possible fire hazard to consumers. The mattresses affected by this recall are marked by a tone on tone swirl pattern imprinted on the white or off white fabric covering a three inch thick mattress pad. A fabric label imprinted with the words Century Spring Mattress and a picture of an embracing couple is sewn on the top side of the mattress near the foot of the bed. A paper tag stamped with the model number is affixed at the foot of the mattress. The mattresses affected by this recall were manufactured in China for exclusive sale at Chicago Century Furniture Incorporated in Chicago, Illinois, from January of 2008 to October of 2010 at a price ranging from $190 to $360. Owners of mattresses affected by this recall should immediately discontinue their use, and they may return them to their original place of purchase for a full refund.

A potential electric shock hazard has prompted LG Sourcing Incorporated to announce a voluntary recall for an estimated 33,000 LED clip-on desk lamps. This recall, affecting lamps produced by the He Shan Lide company headquartered in China, has been issued at the request of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. LG Sourcing Incorporated, located in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, imported the Chinese made lamps to distribute for sale at Lowe’s hardware stores throughout the country between May of 2011 and December of 2011. The lamps, which originally retailed for approximately $20, are equipped with an electrical power cord that can become detached from the clip on component, exposing live electrical wires and creating the potential that the lamp might shock consumers. The He Shan Lide lamps affected by this recall are LED lams constructed of pink and blue plastic with a bendable metal neck approximately one foot in length. A silver label imprinted with the words “Electrical Safety” and “MET” and the code “E113152”followed by the date “Apr. 2011” on one side and model number “F3044-AC-01” (for pink lamps) or F3044-AC-02 (for blue lamps). is affixed to the lamp’s power cord. The cord’s outlet plug is imprinted with the code “KENIC KE 01P E155176.” Consumers in possession of affected lamp models should discontinue their use immediately, and return the lamps to the manufacturer for a full refund including a reimbursement for the cost of shipping the lamp back to the He Shan Lide company. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is interested in hearing any complaints related to this product.

In response to a request from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, Kennedy International Incorporated has announced a voluntary recall for more than 1.6 million units of its folding step stools due to a fall risk posed by the possibility of unexpected breakage during routine use. Kennedy International Incorporated is a product distributor headquartered in Dayton, New Jersey. This folding step stool recall comes as a response to at least 15 consumer complaints made to the company in response to the step stools breaking or cracking during routine use. This recall follows the recall of multiple models of non-folding step stools for similar issues, including a recall of more than 340,000 stools sold at Target retail outlets across the United States. At least three of these incidents have reportedly led to injuries including in one case, a broken leg. An estimated 1.6 million Kennedy Folding Step Stools are being recalled throughout the United States. The Kennedy Folding Step Stools affected by this recall were distributed nationwide to retail outlets including Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, and HomeGoods, where they were sold from January 2010 to January 2012 for a retail price ranging from $8 to $12. Consumers in possession of Kennedy Folding Step Stools affected by this recall are advised to discontinue their use immediately and contact Kennedy International to receive instructions for returning the product for a refund of the full purchase price.

A new report sheds a positive light on the number of product recalls that have to be initiated, but questions still remain.

Kids in Danger, a group that advocates for safety on behalf of consumers, has released a report detailing how in 2011 the number of children’s products recalled dropped by nearly 25%.  This might seem like great news, but some are worried that this doesn’t accurately reflect a drop in unsafe products.  Such a drop could indeed be indicative of a decreased danger, but it might also represent a lower number of successful investigations and subsequent recalls on behalf of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, who Kids in Danger says is too secretive with their process.  If this latter reason is true, it could mean that unsafe products have not in fact decreased.

What hasn’t changed is the number of recalled products that actually get taken back or corrected.  USAToday estimates that 15 to 30% of defective products are all that get returned.  The rest remains on the market with consumers unaware of the danger.

121 recalled products from 2011 could be considered as intended for use by children.  One seemingly positive occurrence is a decrease in drop side crib and lead contamination-based recalls.  This can likely be attributed to heightened standards for such products enacted by the federal government.

As a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles, I think that a decrease in recalls is great news, and I hope it indicates companies are becoming more aware of safety.  It does frighten me that an overwhelming majority of recalled products do not get returned or destroyed, which is why I try to do my part to spread the word as a Fresno personal injury attorney.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has just reached a milestone.  Their website Saferproducts.gov has now been in service for precisely one year.

The database found on that site lets concerned persons search for any relevant recall information as well as post their own complaints directly to the site.  6,000 reports were submitted to the site within the first ten months of its existence.  A study has shown that most reports, 37%, concerned kitchen products, while children’s products were the next biggest area of concern at 15% of reports.

The site was started as the result of a survey which suggested that a whopping 82% of citizens would be interested in a webpage that tracks dangerous products.  Consumers make up the lion’s share of those persons filing a report to the site, with contributions from medical professionals and public safety entities conspicuously absent for the most part.

Concerned consumers may visit the site to browse recall information, or else they can file reports and use a keyword search to see various other safety reports that may or may not have resulted in a recall.

As a personal injury lawyer in San Bernardino, I can see how a tool like this would be indispensable for millions of Americans.  It’s never guaranteed that a product you own is completely safe, but being able to see if anyone else has had problems is a comforting thought.  It’s my hope as a Los Angeles personal injury attorney that more people utilize this excellent site.

Acclarent Incorporated has issued a recall for its Inspira AIR Balloon Dilation System catheter due to a risk of airway obstruction. The Inspira AIR Balloon Dilation System was manufactured from  March 2011 to June 2011, and measures 18 millimeters by 40 millimeters. The affected units have the product code BC1840A.

The balloon catheter, designed to dilate and restore proper airflow in a patient’s airways, has potential problems with deflation, causing it to obstruct airflow.  Acclarent has registered four complaints regarding these problems, including one instance in which the patient was injured. In every case, the surgeon installing the Inspira AIR Balloon Dilation System attempted to adjust the catheter as it shifted away, stretching the balloon and narrowing its catheter shaft, making deflation problematic if not impossible. If the airway obstruction is not remedied, the flow of oxygen to the bloodstream may be interrupted causing a risk of serious physical

Acclarent recommends patients using its Inspira AIR Balloon Dilation discontinue doing so immediately, and return it to the manufacturer for a full refund. The product poses a potentially life threatening health hazard.

As a Bakersfield personal injury lawyer I hope this defective product is successfully recalled before it causes harm to anyone. If you or someone you care about has been harmed by a malfunctioning medical device, please consider discussing your case with a well qualified San Francisco personal injury attorney.

Mega Profit Trading, located in China, has issued a voluntary recall of the 4-in-1 Dramatic Play Theater toy due to a risk of tipping, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with Health Canada. This recall affects approximately 2,150 units throughout the United States and Canada. The 4-in-1 Dramatic Play Theater is distributed by Guidecraft Incorporated, located in Winthrop, Minnesota.

The 4-in-1 Dramatic Play Theater has been known to fall down during play, exposing children to the danger of being trapped underneath it. Two incidents of the theater tipping over have been reported so far, in one case the 4-in-1 Dramatic Play Theater, which is 4-feet tall and 3-feet wide and weighs approximately 46 pounds, is alleged to have caused minor bumps and bruises to the child.

The recall affects 4-in-1 Dramatic Play Theaters with the model number G51062. The model number can be seen on the assembly instructions, or on the bottom of the theater’s center crossbeam. The theater features two exchangeable panels, one panel featuring a diner on one side and a puppet theater on the other, and one panel featuring a post office and a doctor’s office.

Parents are urged to take the 4-in-1 Dramatic Play Theater away from their children and contact Guidecraft for a replacement or refund.

As a San Bernardino personal injury attorney I have seen firsthand the damage done by malfunctioning products. If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, please consider hiring the services of a Ventura personal injury lawyer.

The Hong Kong Genexy group will be voluntarily recalling its Umbro boys outerwear jackets because they pose a choking hazard, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. This recall affects approximately 240 jackets. These jackets are distributed by Umbro USA, located in Beaverton, Oregon.

The toggled retractable elastic drawstring protruding from the jacket’s waist could become entangled in a small passageway or doorframe causing the child to become trapped there. This design is in violation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines regarding drawstrings in children’s outerwear set forth in 1996 and voluntarily standardized in 1997. This was adopted as a federal regulation in July of 2011. Currently no injuries or incidents have been reported.

The recall affects boys Umbro nylon jackets size medium to extra-large sold in Ross Stores nationally for about $8 from April 2011 to January 2012. The jackets were produced in five different color combinations: black and royal blue, black and cedar green, black and Tabasco red, all black, and all navy. The Umbro brand name can be found on the upper right hand side of the jacket, and the bottom of the jacket features the toggled drawstring. If you have one of these jackets in your possession, you are urged to remove its drawstring and return the jacket to Umbro to get your money refunded.

As a San Diego personal injury lawyer, I sincerely hope that these jackets are all safely recalled before anyone is harmed. If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, please consider speaking to an experienced San Jose personal injury attorney.

The Lenovo corporation will voluntarily recall its ThinkCentre M70z and M90z model desktop computers due to a fire hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced.

The ThinkCentre M70z and M90z models can overheat because of a malfunctioning internal component in the power supply creating a fire hazard. The Leonovo corporation, based in Morrisville, NC, has received two complaints related to the ThinkCentre: one incident of the unit smoking, and one of it actually catching fire. Currently, there are no reports of injuries. This recall affects more than 50,000 units.

The ThinkCentre is a single-unit desktop model, integrating the PC components and power supply into the flat-panel monitor. The model number, manufacturing date, and serial number are all listed on the bottom of the unit. Double check the serial number with Lenovo, because only some units are being recalled. The brand name ThinkCentre can be found in the lower left-hand corner of the monitor’s matte black frame.

If you own one of these computers, discontinue use, disconnect the unit from the wall, and contact Lenovo for further instructions. The company is currently replacing all malfunctioning power supplies at no charge to the consumer.

As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer I realize the seriousness of a fire hazard caused by a defective product. If you or someone you love has been hurt by a malfunctioning piece of technology, I urge you to consider discussing your case with a licensed Long Beach personal injury attorney.

Many news sources have been reporting that a previous recall of the Bumbo Baby Seats hasn’t done much to protect babies from allegedly suffering major injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated that parents should stay alert when having their infants on the recalled Bumbo Baby Seats since these items should never be used in elevated surfaces.

Reports of infants aged 3 to 10 months suffering injuries after falling from the recalled seats are still coming. Many have presented skull fractures and other allegedly life-threatening injuries.

According to the reports, there have been at least 45 incidents related to the misuse of the Bumbo seats. The last recall issued previously by the CPSC required that the manufacturers displayed visible warning signs advising the adults to never place their babies on this product while on elevated surfaces. More 17 reports of skull fractures surfaced even after the warning sign started to be used.

Since 2003, there have been 3.85 million seats manufactured by Bumbo Baby Seats International. The items were sold all over the United States.

As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer and a parent, I understand that our children’s safety is a priority to all parents nationwide.

Personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles are always ready to answer your questions regarding cases that happened due to the negligence of companies that overlook the safety of their products.