Defective Products

The pharmaceutical industry is a billion-dollar industry, especially in the United States where there is a "magic pill" for almost anything, whether it is a cold or indigestion. This does not mean that medications are not necessary, however; there are many conditions, such as diabetes, that are managed with drugs.

Pharmaceutical companies, though they know people are counting on their products to make them feel better, are usually more focused on distributing and profiting from their drugs as soon as possible. In order to do so, drug manufacturers often fail to subject their products to sufficient and/or comprehensive safety tests or clinical trials. Drug manufacturers may also avoid labeling their products with information that may lead to decreased use. This seems to have been the case with the type 2 diabetes drug Actos. Read the rest »

A man was injured after a step collapsed at an entryway to an Orange County beach, which is popular among surfers, the afternoon of December 19, 2011. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the trip-and-fall accident occurred along San Clemente's El Portal beach access. A San Clemente marine safety officer stated that a stair slab gave way causing the man to slip. He suffered a hip injury as well as a possible minor head injury. The beach walkway has been closed while officials investigate the accident.

I wish the victim of this Orange County accident the very best for a complete and quick recovery from his injuries. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an auto defect recall for 2011 and 2012 model year Ford F-Series pickup trucks, which apparently have defective automatic transmission interlocks. NHTSA officials say the faulty transmission interlocks can be found in about 16,091 pickup trucks. Drivers can shift the trucks from "park" into rear without stepping on the brakes increasing the risk of car accidents or even injury to nearby pedestrians.

These auto defects are also in violation of federal safety standards. The recall affects the 2011 model year Ford F-150 pickup trucks and 2012 model year Ford F-250, F-350, F-450, and heavy duty F-550 trucks, all manufactured last September. Ford will start notifying owners to bring their recalled trucks to dealerships. The affected brake shift interlock switches will be inspected and replaced at no cost to consumers.

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The manufacturer of a defective child seat, which caused several skull fractures and head injuries among young children, has made no effort to improve their products or make them safer, according to consumer safety advocates. A Reuters report states that despite facing several lawsuits from parents of injured children, South Africa-based Bumbo has done little to reconfigure these seats or make them safer.

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The America College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Urogynecologic Society have issued a joint Committee Opinion stating that there is an "urgent need" for the development of a national registry to track outcomes for all current and future patients who receive vaginal mesh implants. There have been serious concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of these synthetic mesh products that are placed vaginally to treat a condition known as pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Given the horrific side effects thousands of women are experiencing as a result of receiving these transvaginal mesh implants, these groups now recommend that use of these mesh implants should only be reserved for high-risk women "for whom the benefit may justify the risk."

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Ford Motor Company and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have issued an auto defect recall for 2010-2011 model year Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans because of defective wheel studs. According to Consumer Reports, the vehicles involved in this recall may have defective wheel studs that can break and cause the wheels to separate from the cars, increasing the likelihood of a car crash. This problem could involve as many as 128,615 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan cars that are equipped with 17-inch steel wheels.

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A California food company has issued a recall for 6,141 cartons of cilantro in seven states over food poisoning concerns. According to an Associated Press news report, Salinas-based Pacific Cilantro recalled the herbs in seven states after U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors found salmonella in a sampling of the products. So far, no illnesses or fatalities have been reported. The recall has been issued in seven states including California, Arizona, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Indiana, South Carolina and Missouri, as a precaution. Those who have these products in their homes are asked to return them. The herbs were grown by Salt River Farming in the Phoenix area.

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an auto defect recall involving approximately 7,365 Nissan Rogue vehicles due to power steering issues. According to a report in Consumer News, the vehicle recall involves Rogue crossover vehicles manufactured from August 2010 to October 2010. The report states that the electric power steering circuit board was installed improperly. This manufacturing defect puts an additional strain on the circuit board, and could result in a sudden loss of power steering, if the board breaks.

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The Newport Beach personal injury law firm of BISNAR CHASE has filed two auto products liability lawsuits against Nissan on behalf of one plaintiff who was rendered a permanent paraplegic, and family members of another victim who was killed. Both were involved in California car accidents where Nissan's defective seatbacks collapsed and caused the catastrophic and fatal injuries. The defective car seats in the Nissan vehicles in which these victims were traveling were the primary cause of the catastrophic injury and fatality.

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Honda Motor Company has issued an auto defect recall along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for about 126,000 Goldwing motorcycles because of possible brake defects. According to Consumer Reports, Honda has identified an issue with the motorcycles' secondary brake master cylinders that may cause the rear brakes to drag, increasing the risk of a collision. Riding a motorcycle with a rear brake that is stuck may also generate enough heat to pose a fire risk.

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