Alabama Product Injury Lawyer Blog

We have some pretty big recalls this week. So here we go.

1. Baby Jogger City Mini Strollers: I remember when my younger son was an infant, strollers that you could jog with were becoming the big craze, what with the increased interest in fitness and health. Well, Baby Jogger is recalling about 41,000 of its City Mini Strollers because the restraint buckle to keep the child in can break or unlatch, which allows the child/infant to fall out. The recall involves both the single and the double strollers. The word "City Mini" is printed on the stroller. For a chart providing you the item numbers and date codes of the recalled strollers, see here. These strollers were sold between November 2007 through July 2009. If you have one of these strollers, stop using it immediately (although you can continue to jog, just not with your child in it) and contact Baby Jogger to get a free restraint buckle.

2. Frigidaire and Kenmore Elite Smoothtop Electric Ranges: Frigidaire is recalling about 200,000 of it and Kenmore's Elite Smoothtop Electric Ranges because the surface heating elements can turn on by itself without being switched on, fail to turn off when switched off, or heat to different temperatures than you selected. This creates a potential for fire and burn problems. The recall involves Frigidaire, Frigidaire Gallery, Frigidaire Professional and Kenmore Elite smoothtop electric ranges with rotary knobs and digital displays. If you look here, it has the listing of the model and serial numbers involved in the recall. If you have one of these ranges, stop using it immediately and call Frigidaire or Sears to schedule a free repair.

3. Thermal Sailcloth and Matchstick Bamboo Roman Shades Sold Exclusively at Target: These shades, which were sold only at Target and Target.com, are being recalled because a child could be strangled if he puts his neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind or if a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his neck. The recall includes both the Thermal Sailcloth and Matchstick Bamboo roman shades. For additional information regarding the shades involved in this recall see here. If you have these shades, contact Victoria Classics, the importer of the shades and they will send you a free repair kit.

4. Roman Shades Sold Exclusively at Pottery Barn Kids: Another strangulation concern with shades, this one at a store that sells its products specifically for use in kids rooms. Pottery Barn Kids is recalling Roman Shades it has sold between January 2003 and May 2007 through either its website or catalog because again, a child can place his neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind and create a potential for strangulation. The recall involves all sizes and colors. For more information regarding the specific shades involved in the recall, see here. If you have these shades, stop using them and contact Pottery Barn Kids who will provide you with a merchandise card for the purchase value.

5. Maytag, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag and Crosley Refrigerators: This is the expansion of a previous recall back in March 2009 adding another 46,000 units to this recall. I wrote about the previous recall here. These additional models are being recalled again for an electrical failure in the part that turns off the compressor, which can cause overheating and create a risk of fire. The refrigerators involved were sold between September 2000 and May 2004. For a complete listing of the model and serial numbers involved, see here. If you have one of these refrigerators, you should contact Maytag (where is that Maytag repairman when you need him) and they will send someone out for a free in-home repair.

Those are the most significant recalls of this past week. Remember to check up weekly with this blog to get the latest information on major recalls of consumer products and drugs. You can also subscribe above and have it come into your reader. Until next time, be careful out there.

Yesterday the FDA issued what it refers to as an "early communication" advising Drs. and patients that it is investigating whether the weight control drug Orlistat, which is marketed over the counter as Alli, and by prescription as Xenical, may cause liver injury. Thus far, the FDA reports it has received 32 reports of serious liver injury, which include 6 reports of complete liver failure, of patients who were using Orlistat. The FDA is now reviewing data provided by the manufacturers of Orlistat of suspected cases of liver injury. In its press release, the FDA has emphasized that no definite association between liver injury and use of this drug has been determined at this time.

GlaxoSmithKline, which manufactures Alli, the OTC version of this drug, insists "there is no evidence that Alli causes liver damage". The company went on to indicate the people who are overweight or obese are predisposed to liver problems.

My only comment on this issue is the use of medication to lose weight. Time and time again you will here experts in this area say, "there is no easy fix...no magic pill" to make your weight problems go away. It all comes down to 2 things, diet and exercise. Watch what you put in your mouth, and more importantly, how much you are putting in your mouth and get out there and move! I will continue to monitor the concerns raised on this drug and will update here when further information is released. If you have any concerns or issues regarding Alli or Xenical, you are welcome to contact me to discuss them.

Time once again to address the Recalls of the Week. Been dealing this past week with "back to school" issues; one son going back to college and one entering high school. Summer went so fast and we begin again with the stress of the new school year. And speaking of stress....here we go with some products which have been recalled from the market over this past week.

1. Little Tykes Workshop Sets and Trucks: Little Tykes, generally a quality manufacturer of children's toys, is recalling about 1.6 million....yes million, of its Workshop Sets and Trucks because they have oversized toy nails which can create a possible choking hazard in young children. The oversized nails are in red and blue and are about 3 1/4 inches long and 1 1/4 inches in diameter. They were sold with a variety of Little Tykes toys which are shown here. These toys were sold through web sites as well as Toys "R" Us between March 1994 and June 2009. If you have any of these nails, they should be taken away from young children immediately and you can contact Little Tykes for replacements.

2. Duraband DVD Players: Wal-Mart is recalling about 1.5 million Duraband DVD Players which were sold between January 2006 and July 2009. The DVD players can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard. If you have this product, you should stop using it immediately and return it to your nearest Wal-Mart for a full refund.

3. Black & Decker Thermal Coffeemakers: About 9800 of these Black & Decker Thermal Coffeemakers, sold at Wal-Mart and small retail stores between April 2008 and July 2009 are being recalled due to potential to overheat and melt posing a risk of burn to consumers. The model number is TCM1000IKT and is printed on the rating plate on the bottom of the coffeemaker. If you have one of these coffeemakers, you should stop using it immediately and contact the manufacturer, Applica (866-699-4595) to receive a free replacement.

4. Homelite, Husky and Black Max Generators: These generators were sold at Home Depot and Sam's Club under these 3 different names. The fuel gauge on the generator can leak excessive amounts of gas, creating a potential fire hazard. These generators were sold between July 2008 and May 2009. For a specific description of the models involved, see here. If you have one of these generators, stop using it immediately and contact Homelite (for Homelite or Husky brands) @ 800-242-4672 or Black Max (Black Max brands) @ 800-726-5760 for a free repair kit.

That's what we have this week. If you have any of the above products and you have been injured using the product, you can contact me for assistance. In the meantime, be careful out there.

A study issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday of this week confirms that people under age 25 who take antidepressants are at a greater risk of suicidal thoughts and tendencies than older adults taking the same medication. The antidepressant drugs specifically addressed were those generally referred to as SSRIs and SNRI's which include medications such as Prozac, Paxil, Effexor and Zoloft. This study was not a shocking result, but did confirm the validity of the "black box" warning the FDA required on these types of drugs addressing the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and tendencies in individuals below the age of 25 taking this kind of medication.

The article explains that many psychiatrists have complained about the warnings indicating that it has scared people away from using these type of medications. In fact there had been encouragement in the psychiatric community to do away with the warnings the FDA has imposed on these types of drugs based on the significant decline in people seeking treatment for depression. However, this recent study by the FDA, which looked at 372 clinical trials from eight different drug makers involving over 100,000 individuals, confirmed the increase risk of suicide in those under 25 taking these type of medications.

I have handled several cases over the years involving suicides of young people who committed suicide shortly after beginning a course of treatment with a SSRI antidepressant. Before the black box warnings were imposed by the FDA in 2005, primary care physicians were prescribing this type of medication to children and young adults going through what can only be described as "teenage angst". There typically was no diagnosis of depression, much less any formal testing to address whether the young adult or child was indeed depressed. Several weeks later, these young, vibrant souls, with many promising years ahead, were found dead as a result of self inflicted injury. In my view, the significant warnings on these medications were justified and necessary and if it has changed the prescribing habits of primary care physicians as it relates to young adults, then it has had its intended results and more importantly, saved the lives of many children and young adults who essentially were told to pop a pill and they will feel all better.

Back again with the Recalls of the Week. Still working on blogging on a more regular basis. Starting next week I will be trying for at least 2, if not 3 blog posts a week. So here is what has been going on this week in the world of recalls:

1. Circo Booster Seats: Target is recalling its Circo Booster seats, of which about 43,000 have been sold between December 2008 and June 2009. There is a problem with the restraint buckle which can open unexpectedly, allowing a child to fall off the chair. You need to look for manufacture date codes of XJ0811, XJ0812, XJ0901, and XJ0902. This date code is printed on the backside of the seat, next to a consumer warning label. If you have one of these booster seats, stop using it immediately and return it to the nearest Target for a complete refund.

2. Safety 1st Stair Gate: The Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gates are being recalled because the hinges that hold the stair gate in place can break, creating a potential fall hazard for children. Look for model number 42111 which is printed on a sticker under the handle panel. They were sold at Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Walmart and other online retailers between January 2005 through July 2009. Also look for a manufacture date before December 20, 2008 which will be located below the gate's handle and also can be found on a sticker inside the battery door. If you have one of these Stair Gates, stop using it immediately and contact the company to obtain a free repair kit.

3. Polaris Ranger "Crew" and "6x6" Side-by-Side Recreational Vehicles: Polaris is recalling about 3,800 of its Ranger "Crew" and "6x6" Recreational Vehicles due to an electrical short that can cause overheating and risk of fire. For specific model numbers involved, see here. The affected vehicles were sold between December 2008 and July 2009. If you have one of these vehicles, stop using it immediately and contact your Polaris dealer to schedule a free repair of the vehicle.

4. Black and Decker GH1000 Grasshog XP String Trimmer and Edger: Black and Decker is recalling about 200,000 of its Grasshog XP String Trimmer/Edger because the spool, spool cap and pieces of the trimmer string can come loose and become airborne projectiles, creating a hazard to users and bystanders. The trimmers can also overheat leading to a risk of burn to the user. The date codes at issue are 200546 through 200645 and are located on the underside of the trimmer/edger's handle. The recall only involves those with black spool cabs, not orange. These products were sold at major home center and hardware stores between November 2005 through January 2007. If you have one of these edger/trimmer, stop using it immediately and contact Black and Decker for a free repair kit.

5. Frigidaire Clothes Washer: Various washers manufactured by Frigidare, under the names Frigidaire, Crosley, Kelvinator, Kenmore, Wascomat and White-Westinghouse are being recalled due to a defect in the washer's drain pump which can cause heat to build up and lead to fire. For a list of all the models involved, see here. These washers were sold at Sears and other retailers between February 2009 and May 2009. If you have one of these machines, stop using it and unplug it immediately. Contact Frigidaire or Sears to schedule a free repair.

That's it for this week. Remember to be careful out there. If you need any help with these recalled products or have had a problem caused by a recalled product, you are welcome to contact me to discuss it.