Allreds Design Recalls Baby Bracelets and Pacifier Clips Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

On February 24, 2010, In Legal News, By admin

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Allreds Design Baby Bracelets and Pacifier Clips

Units: About 900

Manufacturer: Allreds Design (doing business as Hidden Hollow Beads), of Fort Duchesne, Utah

Hazard: The recalled bracelets and pacifier clip clasps contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: Allreds Design received one report of a 10-month-old child who was treated by a physician for elevated lead levels.

Description: This recall includes Allreds Design brand baby bracelets and pacifier clips. The bracelets are sold in sizes 0-6 months, 1-4 years, and 4-8 years of age. The baby bracelets and pacifier clips have crystal and plastic beads in various colors with a metal clasp.

Sold by: Resale stores and other consignment retailers nationwide from June 2008 through December 2008 for about $5.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these recalled bracelets and pacifier clips away from children and contact Allreds Design for instructions on how to receive a replacement bracelet or pacifier clip.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Allreds Design toll-free at (866) 695-3551 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.hiddenhollowbeads.com

Note: Hidden Hollow Beads was alerted to this hazard by Jefferson County’s Health Department in Missouri.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

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Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Baycreek Due to Strangulation Hazard

On February 23, 2010, In Legal News, By admin

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Hooded Sweatshirts

Units: About 1,900

Distributor: Baycreek Inc., of New York, N.Y.

Hazard: The sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996 CPSC, issued guidelines (pdf) (which were incorporated in to an industry voluntary standard in 1997) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled in the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts.

Description: This recall involves Attitude Gold children’s hooded sweatshirts in sizes small, medium, large and extra large. The sweatshirts were sold in beige, blue, charcoal gray and black and have a random distress designs. Style number ZZJ-2J, ZZJ-01J, ZZJ-04J or ZZJ-5J is printed on the hangtag.

Sold at: Burlington Coat Factory and Modecraft Fashions stores nationwide from October 2008 through June 2009 for about $25.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard or return the garment to either the place of purchase or to Baycreek for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Baycreek collect at (212) 279-2777 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

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Graco Recalls Strollers Due to Fingertip Amputation and Laceration Hazards

On January 20, 2010, In Legal News, Personal Injury Lawyers, By admin

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Graco’s Passage™, Alano™ and Spree™ Strollers and Travel Systems

Units: About 1.5 million

Manufacturer: Graco Children’s Products Inc., of Atlanta, Ga.

Hazard: The hinges on the stroller’s canopy pose a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is opening or closing the canopy.

Incidents/Injuries: Graco has received seven reports of children placing their fingers in the stroller’s canopy hinge mechanism while the canopy was being opened or closed, resulting in five fingertip amputations and two fingertip lacerations.

Description: This recall involves Graco Passage™, Alano™ and Spree™ Strollers and Travel Systems with the following model numbers and specific hinge mechanisms:

Model Numbers
6303MYC, 6303MYC3 7240DNB, 7240DNB2
7240MKL2, 7240MKL3		 7F02GLM3
6320IVY, 6320LAU 7241DDH2, 7241DHO3 7F04TAY3
6330CAP, 6330THR,
6330THR3		 7255CLP, 7255CLP2,
7255CRA2, 7255CRA3,
7255CSA3, 7255GPK3,
7255GRN, 7255GRN2,
7255JJB3, 7255ORC2,
7255WLO2, 7255WLO3		 7F07EMA3
6F00QIN3, 6F00RRY3 7256CLO2, 7256SPM2,
7256SPM3		 7F08DSW3, 7F08LAN3
6F03GLN3 7260BAN, 7260BAN2,
7260BAN3, 7260MRA2,
7260MRA3, 7260PKR,
7260PKR2		 7G00DLS3, 7G00DLS4
6G10CSE3 7270BIA, 7270BIA2 7G01CRL3
7235GGA, 7235GGA2 7E01JON2, 7E01JON3 7G04KRA3
7236CDR2 7F00LPE3, 7F00RSH3 7G05GPR3, 7G06WSR3
7237HOL2, 7237HOL3 7F01FOR3 7G07ABB3, 7G07BAT3

Graco manufactured two different styles of hinge mechanisms for these stroller models. Only strollers or travel systems with a plastic, jointed hinge mechanism that has indented canopy positioning notches (see photo below) are included in this recall. The recalled strollers were manufactured between October 2004 and February 2008. The model number and manufacture date are located on the lower inside portion of the rear frame, just above the rear wheels.

Sold at: AAFES, Burlington Coat Factory, Babies “R” Us, Toys “R” Us, Kmart, Fred Meyer, Meijers, Navy Exchange, Sears, Target, Walmart and other retailers nationwide from October 2004 and December 2009 for between $80 and $90 for the strollers and between $150 and $200 for the travel systems.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled strollers and contact Graco to receive a free protective cover repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Graco at (800) 345-4109 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.gracobaby.com.

————————————————-

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CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

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Iovate Health Sciences U.S.A., Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Hydroxycut Branded Products

On May 7, 2009, In Food and Drug Administration, Legal News, By admin

Iovate Health Sciences USA, Inc. of Blasdell, New York and Ontario, Canada announced today that it is voluntarily recalling Hydroxycut branded products sold in the United States.

hydroxycut-recalls

Iovate initiated a voluntary recall when it became aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s assessment of 23 reports about consumers having experienced liver-related problems, as well as a small number of published case reports, was different from Iovate’s analysis. On May 1, 2009, the FDA issued an advisory which states that, “Although the liver damage appears to be relatively rare, FDA believes consumers should not be exposed to unnecessary risk.” The number of adverse event reports described by the FDA is small relative to the many millions of people who have used Hydroxycut products over the 7 years referenced by the FDA. Iovate’s own assessment of the potential risk associated with the use of these products differs from that expressed by the Agency. Every product marketed by Iovate is evaluated during its development for the safety of its individual ingredients. Additionally, independent thirdparty experts from the leading independent scientific firm specializing in ingredient assessment, toxicology and product safety for the nutritional and pharmaceutical industry review the safety of Iovate’s ingredients and formulas before products are introduced in the marketplace. Only after this external review is completed does Iovate release a formula.

However, out of an abundance of caution and because consumer safety is Iovate’s top priority, Iovate is voluntarily recalling these Hydroxycut-branded products.

The recalled products are sold in multiple-count caplet and capsule boxes and bottles. The FDA advisory states that, “Consumers who have these products are urged to stop using them.” Iovate is working with the FDA and retailers to ensure that these products are quickly and effectively removed from the market. For product refunds, consumers are directed to return their product directly to the location where it was purchased. Consumers with questions about the advisory or recall can visit www.hydroxycutinformation.com for more information. Consumers can also contact the company by calling 1-877-468-2835 between 9 am and 5 pm Eastern Standard time.

The list of products being voluntarily recalled by Iovate:

HYDROXYCUT RAPID RELEASE REGULAR CAPLETS

631656893649 Hydroxycut 140ct Cap US
631656833621 Hydroxycut 60 GNC US
631656600988 Hydroxycut 300ct Caplets US
631656890129 Hydroxycut 36ct Cap US “with CARDS”
631656282245 Hydroxycut 160ct Cap US *Discontinued*
631656873214 Hydroxycut 58ct Cap US
631656813418 Hydroxycut 70ct Cap US
631656808612 Hydroxycut 70ct Caps US *Discontinued*
631656808117 Hydroxycut 100 cap US *Discontinued*
631656818642 Hydroxycut 140ct Cap US *Discontinued*
631656882414 Hydroxycut 80ct Caps US *Discontinued*
631656843262 Hydroxycut 210ct Cap US
631656828665 Hydroxycut 210 cap US *Discontinued*
631656600582 Hydroxycut 60ct + 1 Hydroxycut Sachet WB US
631656600476 Hydroxycut 72ct + Hydroxycut Sachet WB US
631656600483 Hydroxycut 100ct Caplets US
631656600506 Hydroxycut 150ct Caplets US
631656601251 Hydroxycut 170 Caplets US
631656600452 Hydroxycut 30ct Caplets US

HYDROXYCUT HARDCORE LIQUID CAPSULES

631656600650 Hydroxycut Hardcore 120ct US
631656600834 Hydroxycut Hardcore 210ct US
631656001778 Hydroxycut Hardcore 30ct US
631656601435 Hydroxycut Hardcore 252ct US
631656601848 Hydroxycut Hardcore 30ct US Trial – Bodybuilding.com
631656601749 Hydroxycut Hardcore 120ct US NEW
631656601763 Hydroxycut Hardcore 252ct US
631656601756 Hydroxycut Hardcore 210ct US NEW

HYDROXYCUT CAFFEINE-FREE CAPLETS

631656801224 Hydroxycut Caffeine Free 140ct Cap US
631656821246 Hydroxycut Caffeine Free 330ct Cap US
631656801217 Hydroxycut Caffeine Free 100ct Cap US
631656801231 Hydroxycut Caffeine Free 58ct Cap US
631656899122 Hydroxycut Caffeine Free 36ct Cap US
631656600544 Hydroxycut Caffeine Free 60ct US
631656600551 Hydroxycut Caffeine Free 72ct US
631656600568 Hydroxycut Caffeine Free 100ct US

HYDROXYCUT MAX CAPLETS

631656601466 Hydroxycut Max 120ct bonus + 1Hyd Max Sachet WB US
631656601633 Hydroxycut Max 210ct Bonus + 1 Hyd Max Sachet WB US

HYDROXYCUT REGULAR DRINK PACKET

631656860191 Hydroxycut Weight Loss Drink Mix 21pk Sachet – Wild Berry US
631656860313 Hydroxycut Weight Loss Drink Mix 21pk Sachet – Country Lemonade US

HYDROXYCUT HARDCORE DRINK PACKET (IGNITION STIX)

631656701326 Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Mix 2.7g Sachet – Blue Raspberry US
631656701319 Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Mix 2.6g Sachet – Fruit Punch US
631656760118 Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Mix 40pk x 2g Sachet – Fruit Punch US
631656760125 Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Mix 40pk x 2g Sachet – Blue Raspberry US

HYDROXYCUT CAFFEINE-FREE DRINK PACKET

631656760095 Hydroxycut Caffeine Free Drink Mix 21pk x 3.6g Sachet – Raspberry Ice US

HYDROXYCUT MAX DRINK PACKET

631656860375 Hydroxycut Max Drink Mix 40pk x 2.4g Sachet – Wild Berry US
631656860382 Hydroxycut Max Drink Mix 40pk x 2.7g Sachet – Lemonade US

HYDROXYCUT LIQUID SHOT

631656800159 Hydroxycut Weight Loss Single Shot 2oz – Wild Berry US
631656860207 Hydroxycut Weight Loss Shot 2 x 2oz Pk – Wild Berry US
631656860498 Hydroxycut Instant Weight Loss Shot 12 x 2oz – Wild berry US

HYDROXYCUT MAX AQUA SHED

631656601855 Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed 60ct Capsules US

HYDROXYCUT HARDCORE RTD

631656860436 Hydroxycut Hardcore 4 x8oz RTD – Grape Infusion US
631656860399 Hydroxycut Hardcore 4 x 8oz RTD – Triple WildBerry US
631656860665 Hydroxycut Hardcore 12-pack RTD – Grape Infusion US
631656860467 Hydroxycut Hardcore 3 x 4-pack RTD – Grape Infusion US
631656860443 Hydroxycut Hardcore 3 x 4-pack RTD – Triple Wildberry US
631656860443 Hydroxycut Hardcore 3 x 4-pack RTD – Triple Wildberry US
631656860568 Hydroxycut Hardcore 12-pack RTD – Triple Wildberry US

HYDROXYCUT 24

631656600933 Hydroxycut 24 (96 caps/ blister pack) US

HYDROXYCUT CARB CONTROL

631656800036 Hydroxycut Carb Control 58ct Cap US
631656800029 Hydroxycut Carb Control 100ct Cap US
631656800012 Hydroxycut Carb Control 140ct Cap US

HYDROXYCUT NATURAL

631656600889 Hydroxycut Natural 100ct US

Please note that Hydroxycut Hoodia and Hydroxycut Cleanse products are not included in this recall; nor are any other Iovate products.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/iovate05_09.html

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Serious Side Effects From Hydroxycut Products

On May 7, 2009, In Food and Drug Administration, Legal News, By admin

hydroxycut-recallThe problems with Hydroxycut are growing in number, and to date at least 23 people who have used them have reported serious side effects. One person has tragically died after using them.

Specifically, the dangerous side effects include:

  • Seizures from Hydroxycut
  • Hydroxycut liver failure
  • Cardiovascular disorders
  • Kidney failure
  • Rhabdomyolysis from Hydroxycut

Unfortunately, as serious as these side effects are, they are not the most dangerous ones associated with this product line to this point.

Those side effects include several different types of liver damage, including jaundice and raised levels of enzymes in the liver, which can lead to irreparable liver damage and ultimately the need for a liver transplant.

The FDA Responds…

As a result of these reports, the US Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) has recently released a statement that leaves no room for doubt in regards to the severity of the problem.

In the statement, the FDA warned all consumers to stop using these products immediately, and that an investigation was beginning to attempt to determine the cause of these side effects. At this point, no central cause has been identified, but the risks are severe enough that the FDA has overtly requested the use of Hydroxycut to stop.

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FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Using Hydroxycut Products

On May 7, 2009, In Food and Drug Administration, Legal News, By admin

fda

Dietary Supplements Linked to One Death; Pose Risk of Liver Injury

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. Some Hydroxycut products are associated with a number of serious liver injuries. Iovate has agreed to recall Hydroxycut products from the market.

The FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant. One death due to liver failure has been reported to the FDA. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure.

Liver injury, although rare, was reported by patients at the doses of Hydroxycut recommended on the bottle. Symptoms of liver injury include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) and brown urine. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, excessive fatigue, weakness, stomach or abdominal pain, itching, and loss of appetite.

“The FDA urges consumers to discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risk. Adverse events are rare, but exist. Consumers should consult a physician or other health care professional if they are experiencing symptoms possibly associated with these products,” said Linda Katz, M.D., interim chief medical officer of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

Hydroxycut products are dietary supplements that are marketed for weight-loss, as fat burners, as energy-enhancers, as low carb diet aids, and for water loss under the Iovate and MuscleTech brand names. The list of products being recalled by Iovate currently includes:

Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
Hydroxycut 24
Hydroxycut Carb Control
Hydroxycut Natural

Although the FDA has not received reports of serious liver-related adverse reactions for all Hydroxycut products, Iovate has agreed to recall all the products listed above. Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia products are not affected by the recall. Consumers who have any of the products involved in the recall are advised to stop using them and to return them to the place of purchase. The agency has not yet determined which ingredients, dosages, or other health-related factors may be associated with risks related to these Hydroxycut products. The products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts.

Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report serious adverse events (side effects) or product quality problems with the use of these products to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online, by regular mail, fax or phone.

-Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm
-Regular Mail: Use FDA postage paid form 3500 found at: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm and mail to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787
-Fax: 800-FDA-0178
-Phone: 800-FDA-1088

The FDA continues to investigate the potential relationship between Hydroxycut dietary supplements and liver injury or other potentially serious side effects.

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EPA Tightens Air Quality Standards for Lead

On October 31, 2008, In Housing & Premises Accidents, Legal News, Personal Injury Lawyers, By NewSunSEO

Allowable levels of airborne lead emissions will be reduced tenfold from current standards, under new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules announced Thursday. The stricter regulations are intended to protect the public — especially chidren — from health problems associated with exposure to airborne lead.

The new, stricter airborne lead standards “tighten the allowable lead level 10 times to 0.15 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air,” according to an EPA Press Release, and mark the first time lead standards have been changed in 30 years. The New York Times reports that representatives of a number of industries that are major emitters of lead — including metalworkers, recyclers, and utility companies — had traveled to Washington D.C. in early October, to plead their case for a less strict standard for airborne lead emissions. But under the new standards, “No later than October 2011, EPA will designate areas that must take additional steps to reduce lead air emissions. States have five years to meet these new standards after designations take effect,” according to the EPA.

Lead is a dangerous substance, especially for young children and older adults. Exposure to high levels of lead in the air — or in products like lead-based paint — can lead to nervous system damage, behavior and learning problems, hearing problems, and headaches.

(Source:FindLaw.com)

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Federal Judge Blasts Use of Statistics on Race to Set Damages in Ferry Crash

On October 29, 2008, In Accident Lawyers, Legal News, Workplace Accidents, By NewSunSEO

“A Brooklyn federal judge has slammed the use of statistics showing racial differences in life expectancy to determine damages for a catastrophically injured black man.

James McMillan was rendered a quadriplegic in the 2003 crash of the New York City-operated Staten Island Ferry. Last month, Eastern District of New York Judge Jack B. Weinstein awarded McMillan damages of $18.3 million.

The city had sought to limit McMillan’s damages on a number of grounds, arguing that his past criminal records as much as his race indicated a shorter life expectancy. But Weinstein indicated during trial he would issue a written decision further explaining his reasoning on the race issue.

Issuing that decision Tuesday, Weinstein said the consideration of statistical differences in life expectancy among races in determining damages would be discriminatory and unconstitutional.

He noted that a wrongheaded insistence on immutable racial differences had been behind the U.S. Supreme Court’s infamous decision in Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896), which upheld racial segregation under the doctrine of “separate but equal.”

“Statistical reliance on ‘race’ leads to such questions as whether Plessy would have been today categorized as ‘African American’ for life expectancy purposes,” Weinstein wrote. “In a more recent example, ‘racially’ characterizing for statistical purposes in a negligence lawsuit the current Democrat Party presidential candidate, born of a ‘White’ American mother and an ‘African’ citizen of Kenya, would be considered absurd by most Americans.”

The judge also said racial statistics should be rejected on scientific grounds, and he approvingly cited a number of well-known anthropologists who regard race as a social construct rather than a biological fact.

“Reliance on ‘race’-based statistics in estimating life expectancy of individuals for purposes of calculating damages is not scientifically acceptable in our current heterogeneous population,” Weinstein wrote in McMillan v. City of New York, 03 civ. 6049.

Though the judge acknowledged a documented mortality gap between blacks and whites, he said the gap likely owed much to socioeconomic factors masked as “race.” He noted some studies indicating that blacks and whites of equivalent socioeconomic status enjoyed similar longevity.

Weinstein said that courts had increasingly moved toward race- and gender-neutral calculations of damages, and observed that racial differences were ignored by Special Master Kenneth R. Feinberg in his administration of the federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.

The Corporation Counsel’s Office declined to comment on Weinstein’s decision.

The 2003 ferry accident, which killed 11 people and injured dozens more, has led to a flood of litigation. Before McMillan’s award was handed down, the city had already agreed to pay more than $50 million to settle several other cases. Around 40 more cases remain open.”

(Read More At: Law.com)

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At Risk: One Head Injury Sets the Stage for a Second One in Children

On October 24, 2008, In Legal News, Personal Injury Lawyers, By NewSunSEO

Children who suffer a head injury are much more likely to have another one within six months, researchers reported Monday. The big question is why.

Writing in Pediatrics, the researchers said the children they had studied were twice as likely as other children to injure their heads again. The study was led by Bonnie R. Swaine of the University of Montreal.

Until now, the study said, there has been some circumstantial evidence suggesting that one head injury predisposes children to another. Trying to determine if this was really the case, the researchers looked at what happened to more than 11,800 children, ages 1 to 18, who came to two pediatric emergency rooms over a little more than two years for treatment of a head injury.

Although the researchers were unable to establish what kind of children were at most risk to be injured again – beyond the well-known fact that boys are more likely to have injuries than girls – they suggested that repeated injuries probably involved a “complex interaction between children and their personal and social environments.”

To begin with, a mild head injury can cause continuing problems that may not be obvious. “Even subtle deficits in coordination, balance or endurance,” the study said, “combined with cognitive and behavioral limitations, might reduce a child’s ability to meet the demands of a difficult task.”

It may also be, the researchers said, that the children who are injured again are exposed to more hazardous environments or have less parental supervision.

The study recommended that families of children who have had head injuries might benefit from counseling on injury prevention. It also said doctors might consider extending the four-week restriction on activity that patients are often advised to follow.

(Source: NY Times)

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Dangerous child booster seats

On October 16, 2008, In Accident Lawyers, Car Accidents, Legal News, Personal Injury Lawyers, By NewSunSEO

The risk of a brain injury to a child in a car crash can be reduced by the use of child car seats and car booster seats.

But, now we hear that Insurance industry and transportation researchers have cited 13 booster seats that don’t put children in the best position to be protected in a car crash, but makers of the seats said their products meet or exceed federal regulations according to reports at the Associated Press.

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