CPSC ISSUES WARNING TO PARENTS USING TABLESIDE BOOSTER SEATS

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) issued the following press release today regarding the Phil & Ted's metoo chairs:

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2011
Release #11-218

CPSC Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC Alert: Consumers Urged To Stop Using phil&teds USA Clip-on Chairs Due To Serious Dangers Posed To Children

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns consumers that some "metoo" clip-on table top chairs, imported by phil&teds USA Inc., of Fort Collins, Colo. put young children at risk of serious injury due to multiple safety hazards. CPSC is urging consumers to stop using some metoo clip-on chairs immediately.

The product is an infant/toddler chair with a nylon fabric seat and a metal frame that clamps onto tables using two metal vise clamps. The upper part of each clamp rests on the table top and has either a rubber clamp pad on its underside or a rubber boot covering it. The chair is sold in three fabric colors - red, black and navy.

The clip-on chairs affected by this warning do not have plastic spacers between the table clamps and the front horizontal metal bar. The clip-on chairs that have plastic spacers between the table clamps and the front horizontal metal bar are under evaluation.

The company has refused to agree to a national recall of their hazardous product that is acceptable to CPSC. The company has offered a repair kit consisting of rubber boots to place on the upper clamp grips of the chairs. Consumers should be aware that CPSC has not approved a repair kit for this product, despite the firm's prior statement that it was conducting a recall "in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission."

CPSC is urging consumers to stop using the affected metoo chairs at this time in order to prevent the risk of injury to children.

The affected metoo chairs pose serious fall and amputation hazards to children placed in them. Children can suffer impact and head injuries when the chair detaches from the table and falls with them in it. CPSC staff is aware of numerous incidents involving the affected metoo chairs.

CPSC staff has determined that the clamps can detach from a variety of different table surfaces. Additionally, the chairs can detach when children move around or use their feet to push against other objects. Staff also determined that the lack of adequate space between the horizontal metal bar at the front of the chair and the clamps can cause children's fingers to be severely pinched, lacerated, crushed or amputated if caught between the bar and the clamp when the chair detaches.

In addition to hazards with the affected clip-on chairs, the product packaging and instructions provide conflicting information. The product's packaging and marketing information show the product being used in ways that may lead to the chair detaching from the table. However, the product's instructions do not adequately warn against this type of use.

Tens of thousands of the affected metoo chairs may have been distributed since May 2006 for about $50 through philandteds.com, Amazon.com, Buy Buy Baby, Target, Toys R Us, other online retailers and a variety of independent juvenile specialty stores.

To see this safety alert on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the products involved, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11218.html

Do you own one of these chairs? If so, we would like to speak with you. Please call defective product attorneys at The Heller Law Firm at 800-992-9947 for more information or visit our website at www.seriousinjury.org.

Victims’ Families File Suit in University Shooting Case

In January 2010, troubled biology researcher and professor Amy Bishop opened fire on several of her colleagues at a departmental staff meeting at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. Bishop was subsequently indicted on criminal charges in the case, but several of the families of the victims who were killed in the rampage have recently filed wrongful death suits. The suits claim that the university, certain administrative officials, and even Bishop’s husband failed to intervene when Bishop’s pattern of behavior indicated that a violent outburst could be imminent. Financial details of the suits have not yet been released.

If you or a family member have been impacted by the failure of an organization or institution to take proper precautions, you may have a valid legal claim. Contact the California personal injury attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Tennessee Woman’s Family Seeks Damages in Explosion Death

In November 2010, 44-year-old Tennessee resident Yolanda Bates pulled into a locally owned convenience store called Abel’s Way. Not realizing that a potentially dangerous situation existed, Bates drove over a hose that was connected to a gas tanker truck, causing a massive explosion that lead to her death.

Bates’ son has filed a suit against the store owners, the truck driver, and the company that owns the tanker truck, claiming that the placement of the underground fuel tanks close to the store’s parking lot entrance constituted an act of deadly negligence.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to a company’s carelessness or unsafe practices, we can walk you through your legal options. Contact the California wrongful death attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

St. Louis Father Blames Area Haunted House Attraction for Teen Daughter’s Death

So-called ‘haunted houses’ are an increasingly popular attraction for teens and young adults in many parts of the United States, but a recent lawsuit claims that the quest for Halloween thrills turned deadly for one Missouri teen.

When 15-year-old Brittney Holmes made a trip to the St. Louis area establishment known as The Darkness in October 2009, her family claims that she wasn’t aware that the attraction was filled with smoke and fog that could potentially aggravate her chronic respiratory condition. She suffered a severe asthma attack after leaving the haunted house, after which she lapsed into a persistent vegetative state due to a lack of oxygen. After languishing in a coma for a year with no significant change in her condition, Brittney Holmes passed away in November 2010. The Holmes family has filed multiple lawsuits in the case.

Have you or a loved suffered injury, illness, or even death due to another’s carelessness? We can help. Contact the California premises liability attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Minnesota Family Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Nursing Home

It took a while for the adult children of 91-year-old Esther Rannow to discern a troubling pattern in the treatment their mother was receiving at the Benedictine Living Community, an assisted living facility in St. Peter, Minnesota. In fact, it wasn’t until Rannow had lapsed into an unconscious state after having been dropped by a caretaker – the second such incident in a month’s time – that the puzzle pieces started to fall into place for the family. Rannow was eventually moved to a nearby hospital, where it was determined that she was suffering from septic shock due to an undiagnosed urinary tract infection. She died several days later. The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the facility.

Has a medical institution failed to live up to a sufficient standard of care for you or a loved one? If you have been a victim of substandard health care, we can help you evaluate your legal options. Contact theCalifornia elder abuse attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

After Being Struck by On-Duty Oregon Police Officer, Pedestrian Receives $338,000 Settlement

In November 2009, Portland police officer Ty Garrison was making the rounds in his 2007 Crown Victoria cruiser when he glanced down at his in-car computer to determine whether there were any pending dispatch calls being directed to his attention. When Garrison’s eyes were off the road, his car struck a pedestrian who was crossing the street at the time, heading toward a neighborhood grocery store. 80-year-old Alganesh Negasi suffered multiple injuries as a result of the crash, including multiple leg fractures and a fractured pelvis. Her injuries necessitated a lengthy hospital stay and months of rehabilitation, and Negasi is no longer able to walk without assistance. The City of Portland recently paid $338,477 to settle the lawsuit that Negasi brought against the municipal government.

Has someone else’s recklessness caused you harm? If so, we can help. Contact the California motor vehicle accident attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Big Rig Crash Blamed on Marijuana Yields $6.5 Million Settlement

The Carroll family of Huntley, Illinois was on their way to take three-year-old Gabriel to a pumpkin patch on Halloween night 2008 when the family pickup truck was rear-ended by a big rig driven by Jeffrey Repec. Tabitha Carroll, 32, was killed in the collision; her husband Randy and son Gabriel also suffered multiple broken bones and other injuries as a result of the crash. The lawsuit filed against Repec’s employer, Geils Farms, alleged that the driver was traveling at an unsafe rate of speed and was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash. The Carroll family received a $6.7 million settlement in the case, and driver Jeffery Repec is currently serving a prison sentence related to the collision.

Have you or a loved one suffered as a result of unsafe driving or other questionable corporate practices? If so, we can help you understand your legal options. Contact the California big rig accident attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

New York Man Injured by Falling AC Unit Files $21 Million Lawsuit

67-year-old East Village resident Anthony Franzese was taking a break while walking his dog when a 45-pound window air conditioning unit fell six stories from his own building, bounced off the awning of a neighboring restaurant, and landed on his head, causing a fractured skull, a concussion, and permanent neurological damage. Later, when Franzese was undergoing emergency surgery related to his injuries, he experienced a heart attack and lapsed into a temporary coma. In a lawsuit stemming from the incident, Franzese claims that the window AC units were improperly secured and did not use the properly rated brackets. Franzese is seeking $21 million in compensation in the case.

Have you or a family member suffered injuries as a result of shoddy workmanship, defective products, or repairs that weren’t up to code? If so, we can help you understand your legal options. Contact the Los Angeles premises liability attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Florida Wrongful Death Suit Blames Comcast for 81-Year-Old Woman’s Demise

Boynton Beach resident Sidell Reiner was setting the table for Thanksgiving dinner in 2009 when she accidentally dropped a wine glass on her foot. The injury began to bleed heavily and Reiner, who was alone in her home at the time, dialed ‘0’ for operator assistance. However, the Comcast operator who responded to Reiner’s request was unable to provide the correct address to 911 dispatchers in the area, despite the fact that Comcast was the Reiner’s home phone service provider. Although Reiner repeatedly called back for help, a full 17 minutes elapsed before first responders arrived at the scene. Because of her injury, Reiner could not answer the door, and the rescuers left the premises without attempting to enter the residence. When Sidell Reiner’s husband arrived home with the relatives he had picked up from the airport, they found Sidell dead in a pool of her own blood.

Has your family been impacted by incompetence or improper procedures? If so, you need the advice of an experienced team of personal injury attorneys. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Fatal Utah Tourist Bus Collision Results in Lawsuit

A pair of Japanese tourists who were celebrating their first wedding anniversary with a road trip through the American Southwest have filed a lawsuit pertaining to the August 2009 crash that killed three and wounded several more of the 14 passengers. Mai and Kei Maeda suffered a number of serious injuries as a result of the crash, including a punctured lung and a broken neck, respectively. The suit filed in the case alleges that the driver of the bus had smoked marijuana the evening before the accident and was operating the bus on very little sleep. It is further alleged that the driver was actually seen to be falling asleep when the crash occurred.

If someone else’s negligence has resulted in injuries for you or a family member, we can help. Contact the Los Angeles bus accident attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Mother of Child Killed by Disney Vehicle Files Wrongful Death Suit

The Brubaker family’s visit to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Lodge in April 2010 turned tragic when their 9-year-old son Chase was struck and killed by a Disney bus. Chase Brubaker was riding his bike when he was side-swiped by the vehicle and was pulled under its rear wheels. Investigators have claimed that a flat bicycle tire may have contributed to the incident, but the Brubaker family produced reports indicating that Chase was adhering to safety rules when the incident occurred. The total amount of damages sought in the case has not yet been disclosed.

If a family member has been injured or killed due to another’s reckless behavior, we can help you assess your legal options. Contact the California motor vehicle accident attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Maryland Lead Paint Lawsuit Ends With $21.9 Million Award

Many people born into impoverished families are able to overcome the disadvantages imposed by their socioeconomic background and break free from the cycle of poverty. Unfortunately, the tragic circumstances into which 23-year-old Marie Carter was born left her unable to strive for a more beneficial life outcome. After spending her infancy and early childhood in Baltimore housing projects that were riddled with lead paint and other environmental toxins, Carter suffered from development disabilities, including a very low I.Q. In the lawsuit she filed against the city of Baltimore, Carter’s legal team was able to establish that she had had elevated lead levels as a child and that she had frequently been witnessed eating lead paint chips. Carter received a jury award of more than $20 million in the case, although part of that award may be reduced according to provisions set forth in Maryland law.

If you or a loved one has been forced to suffer due to another’s carelessness, we’re here to help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

City of Philadelphia Sued by Owner of Capsized Duck Boat

The squat appearance of the duck-shaped boats that give waterway tours in many American cities may be humorous, but the tragic turn of events that befell a vessel carrying 35 tourists in a Pennsylvania river in July 2010 was anything but funny. On that summer afternoon, a “duck boat” showing passengers around Philadelphia’s Delaware River lost power and stalled. After making several distress calls and warning other boats in the area that it was stranded in the middle of the waterway, the boat was struck by a 250-foot barge. The impact threw all of the duck boat’s passengers into the water; two Hungarian tourists were killed in the crash and many passengers, as well as the captain, suffered serious injuries. The City of Philadelphia has failed to issue a comment on the pending lawsuits stemming from the incident.

If you or a family member has sustained injuries due to a government agency’s failure to maintain safe conditions, we can help you understand your legal options. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Slip and Fall in Maui McDonald’s Results in $5.67 Million Award

A vacation in tropical Hawaii took an unexpected twist when Texas resident Beverly Munguia stopped in at a Maui McDonald’s for a meal. Arising from the table after she finished eating, Munguia slipped on an unidentified object on the restaurant’s floor and fell, fracturing a vertebra in her lower back in the process. Since the incident, Munguia has undergone two surgeries, but she is still permanently disabled and confined to a wheelchair as a result of the fall. The court recently decided in Munguia’s favor in the lawsuit she brought in the case, awarding her a total of $5.67 million.

Have you suffered as a result of a business owner’s negligence? If so, you need the advice of a skilled team of personal injury lawyers. Contact the California slip and fall attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Michael Jackson’s Mother Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Concert Promoter

Katherine Jackson, the mother of pop music star Michael Jackson, who passed away under unclear circumstances in June 2009, has filed papers initiating a wrongful death lawsuit against concert promoter AEG. The company was responsible for planning the “This Is It” concert tour for which Michael Jackson was preparing in the weeks before his death. Katherine Jackson’s suit alleges that the company was indirectly responsible for Michael Jackson’s death. The most damning contention in the suit is that AEG staff was responsible for hiring Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician who dispensed the prescription drugs believed to have caused Jackson’s death. The suit also claimed that AEG failed to provide adequate emergency response equipment and safety procedures. Several specific AEG employees and officers are also named in the suit.

Has corporate indifference caused harm to you or a loved one? If so, you need sound legal advice. Contact the Los Angeles wrongful death attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Tennessee Railroad Fatality Leads to Lawsuit

In August 2005, 43-year-old Jose Molina was working on a commercial cargo train car when he slipped from the car and fell to his death. Molina was employed by the Union City Grain Company at the time of his death, and was reportedly helping some coworkers move the railway cars when the incident occurred. Molina’s widow filed suit against Canadian National Railroad, the parent company of the Union City Grain Co., alleging that her husband’s death was the result of negligence on the part of the company, which had refused to furnish a locomotive engine that would have enabled the workers to move the railway cars safely. Mrs. Molina’s suit against the company requests more than $10 million in punitive and compensatory damages.

Have you or a loved one been injured by a company’s negligence? If so, we’re here to help. Contact the Los Angeles personal injury attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Wrongful Death Suit Over Concert Shooting Settled

Thomas Holmes wasn’t expecting to get involved in a gunfight when he settled in to enjoy a live musical performance at the Granby Theater in Norfolk, Virginia in March 2007 – but that’s exactly what happened. After a dispute with a fellow concertgoer, Holmes was shot several times, sustained major injuries, and soon fell into a persistent vegetative state from which he never recovered. He died two years later. The wrongful death suit brought against the club owners by Holmes’ surviving family members resulted in a settlement of more than $1 million, some of which will be placed into a trust fund for Holmes’ young son, Dominic.

If a loved one or family member has been injured or killed, we can help you weigh your legal options. Contact the wrongful death attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Fall at Salt Lake City Airport Prompts Lawsuit

Returning home for the holidays should be a joyous affair, but the trip turned painful for flight attendant Natalie Maxwell. After completing her work duties and leaving the Salt Lake City airport on the day before Christmas Eve, 2008, Maxwell took a spill on an icy sidewalk outside the terminal. The fall resulted in severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury that has rendered it impossible for Maxwell to carry on with her professional and personal life in the manner she was accustomed to before the fall. At the current juncture, the dollar amount being sought in the case has not been named.

If you or a family member has been injured in a fall, let us help you determine the best course of action. Contact the premises liability attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Deaths prompt CPSC, FDA warning on infant sleep positioners

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today warned consumers to stop using infant sleep positioners due to suffocation risk.

The two main types of infant sleep positioners are flat mats with side bolsters or inclined wedge mats with side bolsters, both types claim to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by helping to keep sleeping infants on their backs.

Most sleep positioners claim to aid in food digestion to ease colic or the symptoms of reflux and to prevent flat head syndrome. In light of the new safety data, FDA believes any benefit from using these devices is greatly outweighed by the risk of suffocation.

Parents are encouraged to stop using the sleep positioners immediately and simply put their children "back to sleep."

At The Heller Law Firm, our attorneys and professional staff care deeply about our clients, their families and their futures. Together, our goal is to help our clients obtain the resources they need to recover and rebuild their lives. For a FREE CONSULTATION with a lawyer at The Heller Law Firm, call (866) 461-5791 or use the form below to contact us online at www.seriousinjury.org.

Birth Injury Lawsuit Against New York Hospital Moves to Appeal Phase

In the process of giving birth in a New York hospital in 2003, Mary Swanson experienced a setback when the infant become stuck in the birth canal. The condition, known as shoulder dystocia, occurs when an infant’s shoulder becomes lodged behind a pelvic bone. Shoulder dystocia can delay the birth process, increasing the risk for brain damage, cerebral palsy and other birth defects. The jury in the case found that hospital personnel did not respond to the incident in an efficacious manner, and thus was in part to blame for the complications. The $56 million award is being challenged on appeal by the facility named in the suit, Northern Westchester Hospital.

If your family has been impacted by the tragedy of birth injury, we can help. Contact the california birth injury attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.