2020 | California Personal Injury Blog

Study Shows Young Athletes Take Longer to Recover from Concussions

A new study is showing that high school athletes are still sustaining brain injuries in increasing numbers, and young athletes who suffer concussions need at least a month to recover. These findings that were published in the journal Orthopedics observed 357 high school adolescents (62% males) who were on average 15 years old and were involved in sports from September 2013 to December 2016. The researchers looked at data related to athletes to sustained concussions during this period and compared these to historical data on concussions among young athletes. …Read the rest »

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Hampshire House, the owner of several restaurants in Boston, including the famous Cheers bar featured in a TV show by the same name, is suing its insurance providers over denied business interruption claims it filed in response to the coronavirus pandemic shutdowns. According to The Boston Globe, the company has been navigating estimated losses in the millions of dollars. …Read the rest »

Frozen Taquito and Chimichanga Products Recalled for Plastic Pieces

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection (FSIS) has issued a recall alert for frozen beef and chicken taquitos and chimichangas. According to a news report, officials say these products contain diced green chilies that have been recalled by the producer Sun Valley Foods, and may contain extraneous materials, specifically hard plastic. These pieces of plastic may pose a choking hazard or cause injuries to the teeth or gums.

Details of the Recall

The frozen meat and poultry taquitos and chimichangas were produced by Ajinomoto Foods North America, which is based in Texas as well as here in San Diego, California. The recalled products bear the establishment number “EST 5590,” “P5590” or “EST. 17417” printed on the packaging above the expiration date. These products were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

Ajinomoto Inc. apparently discovered the problem when they identified pieces of hard plastic in their production process and in a barrel of diced green chilies that was received from their ingredients supplier, Sun Valley Foods. That company initiated a recall of the green chilies with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness is urged to contact a health care provider. Officials are saying those who still have these products at home should not consume them. They should be discarded or returned to the point of purchase.

The Danger of Contaminated Food

There have been a number of recent recalls involving extraneous items in food such as rubber, plastic and metal. When items such as glass pieces or metal pieces get mixed in with food, the consequences could be serious. People who consume this contaminated food may suffer oral injuries or even metal poisoning. They may suffer internal injuries if they ingest the metal pieces. Recent studies by the FDA have found that about 25% of all food-related complaints it received over a period of one year involved the presence of a visible foreign object. This same study also indicated that nearly 15% of those who complained had reportedly suffered an injury or illness relating to the foreign object.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of contaminated food or due to a defective product, you may be able to seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced California personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims regarding their legal rights and options.

Walmart Faces Data Breach Lawsuit in California

Walmart Inc. has been accused in a proposed class action lawsuit of violating California’s privacy law by failing to protect consumer data from an alleged hack. According to a Bloomberg news report, customers face significant injuries and damages such as having their data on the dark web as a result of a breach the complaint says occurred, the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California states. …Read the rest »

Nationwide Onion Recall Spurred by Salmonella Outbreak

Onions sold under various brands have been recalled in all 50 states and the Department of Columbia after being linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 359 people across 34 states. According to a news report in the Miami Herald, this includes onions sold at the nation’s two largest grocery retail outlets – Wal-Mart and Kroger. Wal-Mart has released a list of affected stores. Kroger sold the onions under the house brand. …Read the rest »

South Korea Launches Safety Investigation into Tesla Model 3 Vehicles

South Korea has said it is investigating suspected safety problems with vehicles manufactured by U.S. automaker Tesla Inc. According to a Reuters news report, braking and steering systems including the Autopilot feature are part of the investigation, a South Korean transport ministry official said. The ministry did not offer any more information, but South Korean media said Tesla’s Model 3 was under investigation and that the probe could take anywhere between six months to a year. …Read the rest »

Triangle Tube Gas Boilers Recalled After Report of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Death

Triangle Tube has recalled 63,000 gas boilers sold under the brand name Prestige because flue gas can escape from the vent if it isn’t properly installed. According to Consumer Reports, one death has been attributed to this defect due to carbon monoxide poisoning and the company has received two reports of the vent tube separating from the boiler. …Read the rest »

Court in Germany Bans Tesla from Misleading Advertising Relating to Autopilot Capabilities

Germany has banned automaker Tesla from repeating what a court has said are misleading advertising statements relating to the capabilities of the firm’s driver-assist system, the Autopilot. According to a Reuters news report, the case was brought by Germany’s Wettbewerbszentrale, an industry-sponsored body tasked with policing anti-competitive practices. …Read the rest »

Manhattan Ball Toy Sold at Target Stores Recalled Due to Choking Hazard

The Manhattan Toy Company announced a product defect recall of its “Manhattan Ball” activity toys because it could be a choking hazard. According to a news report, the toy has been sold exclusively at Target stores nationwide and online since July 2019. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says the toy is being recalled because the plastic tubes can detach from the center ball and release the small silicone teethers that are threaded on the tubes. This could pose a potential choking hazard for young children. …Read the rest »

New Study Looks at the Impact of Gender Bias in Helmet Rules for Lacrosse Players

A new study shows that high school girls’ lacrosse players who aren’t required to wear flexible headgear are at a higher risk of getting a concussion from a stick or ball impact than boys’ lacrosse players. According to a news report, boys’ lacrosse players who do wear a hard shell helmet with full-face masks, still have the potential to suffer from a traumatic head injury.

…Read the rest »