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Baby Recliners Allegedly Linked to Deaths Recalled
As part of a settlement with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Baby Matters LLC of Pennsylvania is recalling baby recliners that have allegedly been linked to five infant deaths.
Baby Matters recalled its Nap Nanny and Nap Nanny Chill recliners under pressure from the CPSC,,which had filed an administrative complaint against the company in December of 2012 after Baby Matters refused to recall the product voluntarily. Filing an administrative complaint, which seeks a court ruling to have a product mandatorily removed from the market, is a rare action for CPSC to take.
The company had been in negotiations with CPSC to keep the products on the market since the complaint was filed, but finally voluntarily recalled the products. CPSC says it will now drop the complaint.
Five infant deaths were allegedly linked to the baby recliners. The president of the company contended that the products were used improperly in four out of the five deaths, despite clearly labeled warnings against such use. She rejected the CPSC’s contention that businesses are responsible for their products’ misuse.
In response, a spokesman for the CPSC said that the commission believed that the products presented a substantial hazard and the allegations that the products may have been used improperly did not absolve Baby Matters from responsibility.
“A company needs to anticipate the ways in which consumers will use their products,” he stated.
The company has had one wrongful death suit filed against it in connection with an infant death. Baby Matters will not be accepting returns because it is no longer in business. CPSC urged consumers to immediately dispose of the products and to contact the consumer commission concerning returns and refunds.
If you believe that a defectively designed or manufactured product has caused an injury or a death, the product liability attorneys at the Law Office of Reneé J. Nordstrand want to speak with you. By law, it is a manufacturer’s duty to produce products that are safe for consumers — especially when those products are targeted for children.
If you have questions about your legal rights, call us or contact us online for a free, no-obligation review of your case today.
Drivers Not Distracted Using ‘Hands-Free’ Devices? Think Again
In California, texting and driving is completely banned, but a motorist can still use hands-free device technology for talking and making calls while on the road.
A recent survey conducted by the Automobile Association of America’s (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety found that three out of four Americans nationwide believe that the use of hands-free devices, such as speech-based technologies, is risk free.
However, a recent study found that this is simply not the case.
“We know now that devices like voice-detect or voice-to-email systems can create substantial mental distractions, which can lead to degradation of driving performance, “ said Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
Kissinger said that a recent study prepared for AAA by researchers at the University of Utah shows that the human brain isn’t really wired to multi-task and that it is “virtually impossible for the brain to do two complex things at the same time.”
Researchers tested reaction time in drivers who were being presented with a variety of distractions, such as conversing with a passenger or talking on hand-held phones or using hands-free devices.
The study found that some distractions, such as listening to the radio while driving, posed the lowest risk on a distraction scale of one to three. However, on that same scale, using voice-activated technology posed the highest risk of distraction (level three).
What does this mean if you have been involved in an automobile injury accident that was not your fault? The automobile accident attorneys at the Law Office of Reneé J. Nordstrand point out that even if a motorist is complying with the California cell phone law, it does not mean he or she is not dangerously distracted while behind the wheel.
Distracted driving is still negligent driving. A distracted driver who causes an accident is still liable for damages — whether that motorist was following the law or not.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, call our Santa Barbara car accident attorneys at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530. We can also be contacted online. Your case review will be complimentary.
Summer is Here: Preventing Drowning Deaths and Injuries
A recent news story about the tragic drowning death of a three-year-old boy in a Paso Robles swimming pool reminded the pool accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand that summer is here and that homeowners, parents and institutions need to take precautions to prevent drowning deaths and injuries.
Last year, during the traditional summer season from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 137 children younger than 15 years old drowned in pools and spas, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). An additional 168 children of that age required emergency treatment for near-fatal incidents during the same time period.
Nationwide, some 390 children under 15 drown in pools and spas each year and some 5,200 are treated by emergency crews for submersion injuries. Most of the fatal drownings and injuries occur during the summer months.
California ranked second in the nation in pool and spa drowning deaths of children less than 15 years of age in 2012.
The CPSC has labeled child drowning accidents a “serious public health problem.”
The state of California passed the Pool Safety Act in 2007, which requires homeowners to have at least one of seven required safety features for pools and spas. Those safety features include: enclosures around a pool, self-closing safety latches on pool enclosures and in homes, alarm doors, pool and spa covers, and safety alarms that sound when an unauthorized person is in a pool or spa.
Another important safety feature is vigilance. A parent or caregiver should never leave a child unattended at a pool or anywhere else where there is standing water. A drowning can happen quickly. An infant or toddler can drown in just inches of water in an inflatable pool.
But the simplest safety feature you can implement is perhaps the most effective: teach your children to swim.
The Santa Barbara swimming pool injury attorneys Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand know that summer fun comes with the summer heat. Pool and Spa drowning deaths are 100 percent preventable if people just take the proper precautions, remain vigilant and follow the laws concerning pool and spa safety.
Couple Seriously Injured In Motorcycle Crash Near Montecito
A 51-year-old Montecito man was arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) after his SUV collided with a motorcycle head-on in the 800 block of Old Coast Highway. A 63-year-old man and his 59-year-old wife were seriously injured in the crash and were rushed to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital where they were listed in critical condition.
According to Noozhawk.com, the Canadian couple was behind another couple from Canada on their motorcycle when the tragic accident occurred. The driver of a Toyota 4Runner SUV allegedly crossed the center lane of the highway, and while the first motorcycle managed to swerve past the wrong-way vehicle, the second motorcycle was not so lucky. It was struck head-on.
Reportedly, both the victims suffered severe injuries to their left legs. Although it has not been confirmed, early reports indicated that one of them might also have suffered an amputated arm.
The driver of the SUV was taken to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked and charged with felony DUI. A Santa Barbara Police Department spokesman said that it appeared that the suspect might have been driving under the influence of several different substances. Bail was set at $100,000.
The couple had shipped their Harley Davidson motorcycle down from Canada and had intended to take an extended tour of the United States.
“It’s a horrible thing,” the police spokesman said. “Just two couples out having fun, and the day ended in a horrific manner.”
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent motorist, it is important that you seek an experienced and knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible. The Santa Barbara motorcycle accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand will properly investigate your accident to determine the cause of the crash. We are dedicated to seeing that our clients recover damages for any personal injuries sustained, as well as other costs associated with a crash.
If you have questions about your legal rights following an accident, call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530 for a free, no-obligation consultation from an experienced legal representative at the Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand. We can also be easily contacted online.
Ventura Hepatitis A Illness May Be Linked to Contaminated Berries
Ventura County Public Health officials are reporting that the first case of Hepatitis A possibly linked to a contaminated frozen berry smoothie mix has been documented in Ventura County.
The berry mix, which was sold and distributed by Townsend Farms in Oregon, was recently recalled after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started receiving reports of Hepatitis A cases in Illinois and South Carolina. The agencies determined that the outbreak might be linked to a frozen berry smoothie mix packaged and sold by Townsend Farms.
In California, the Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berries were sold in Costco stores. Ventura County officials say that about 400 packages were sold in the county before the recall took effect. Costco has removed the packages from its shelves and claims that it is trying to contact customers who may have bought the contaminated product.
So far, there have been 40 reported cases of Hepatitis A potentially linked to the contaminated frozen berries nationwide. Three cases have required hospitalization. There have also been seven reports of infections in California. The Ventura County victim reportedly has been ill for a couple of weeks, but has not required hospitalization.
The strain of Hepatitis A associated with this outbreak is fairly rare in North America and South America, but it is more prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa. A spokesman for Townsend Farms admitted that the frozen berry mix contained pomegranate seeds that had been imported from Turkey.
The product liability attorneys at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand will be watching this story with great interest as it progresses. It is a manufacturer’s, a distributor’s or a retailer’s duty to assure that any product it manufactures, sells or distributes is safe for the consumer. If it is not, they should be held liable for injuries those products cause.
Have you or a loved one been sickened by a contaminated food product? Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530 or contact us online to learn what your legal options might be.
Multimillion Dollar ASR Hip Implant Verdict Upheld by Judge
If Johnson & Johnson (J&J) attorneys were expecting a Los Angeles judge to overturn a historic $8.3 million jury verdict for the plaintiff in the first DePuy ASR hip case to go to trial, they went home disappointed.
In March, a jury found that J&J’s DePuy Orthopaedics subsidiary had manufactured a defective metal-on-metal hip replacement device and failed to adequately warn patients about the risks of the hip implant. The plaintiff in the trial alleged that defects with the design of DePuy’s ASR hip had caused him to suffer permanent injuries.
The jury agreed and awarded him $8.5 million in damages. Attorneys representing DePuy asked the judge to overturn the verdict and grant a new trial, claiming that there was not enough evidence presented at the trial to justify the verdict.
The judge disagreed with that assessment and let the verdict stand. He said that based on the evidence, it was not unreasonable for a jury to conclude that the ASR hip device was defective and that DePuy had not adequately warned patients about potential complications associated with the implant.
There has only been one other case concerning the DePuy ASR hip that has gone to trial so far. An Illinois jury found for DePuy in that case. Currently, there are more than 10,000 cases pending in federal and state courts alleging similar complications with the metal-on-metal hip implant.
In 2010, DePuy issued a voluntary recall of its ASR product line. At the time, the company said the recall was not an admission that the devices were defective, but reflected a marketing decision. However internal memos made public during the trial indicated that DePuy knew there were problems with the ASR devices before the recall.
Recently, DePuy decided to phase out all of its controversial metal-on-metal hip products.
Do you believe you have suffered an injury due to a defective metal-on-metal hip device? Contact the experienced metal-on-metal hip implant failure attorneys at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand. Our dedicated legal team is committed to seeking maximum compensation for our clients.
You can call the Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand at our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530 to discuss your legal rights.
Santa Barbara Law Enforcement Officials React to Proposed Lowering of DUI Threshold
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently released a report in which it advocated that the nationwide threshold for blood-alcohol content (BAC) be lowered from 0.08 to 0.05.
The report pointed out that the U.S. is lagging behind other nations in the European Union that have already adopted the lower BAC. While overall DUI (driving under the influence) deaths in the United States have dropped substantially over the past several decades, the percentage of alcohol-related accident deaths compared to overall accident fatalities has remained fairly constant at about one-third — about 10,000 deaths a year.
A spokesman for the Santa Barbara Police told Noozhawk.com that he had no doubt that a lowered nationwide BAC would have the desired impact that it seeks. He said that Santa Barbara police take DUI enforcement very seriously and noted that there had been 39 DUI arrests in April and 49 in March.
A captain with the Lompoc Police stated that although his department has no official stance on the proposed change, “We’re not in favor of anybody driving impaired at any level.”
“Mothers Against Drunk Driving appreciates the National Transportation Safety Board for bringing the American public’s attention to the fact that drinking and driving continues to be a major problem on our highways,” the non-profit advocacy group said in a statement.
There are still too many injuries and fatalities caused by impaired drivers in the Santa Barbara and Los Angeles areas. If you have been injured, or if you have lost a loved one due to an impaired driver, the automobile accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand can help you seek the justice you deserve. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, funeral costs and other damages
If you’ve been the victim of a negligent motorist, call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530 for a free, no-obligation review of your case.
Lompoc Family Wants Justice for 8-Year-Old Injured in Crash
The family of an eight-year-old Lompoc girl who was struck by a car while playing in her neighborhood is demanding to know why the driver of the vehicle has only received a citation for the pedestrian accident.
It has been weeks since the crash, which left the little girl with two broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a sprained wrist, and a laceration to her liver. The family claims that the little girl also suffered brain trauma. She has not been back to school since the accident.
The family alleges that the driver of the vehicle hit the girl and then left the scene of the accident to run into her boyfriend’s house. Lompoc Police say that they do not consider the accident a hit-and-run, but that the case has been sent to the District Attorney’s office for review.
According to KCOY News, the family is still waiting to hear from the driver of the vehicle and wants her to pay for what she’s done.
“Why aren’t they helping us? Why aren’t they reaching out to our family? Where is the compassion for us? I just want answers,” the girl’s grandmother told KCOY News.
The driver was cited for cutting a corner too closely before striking the little girl, who was riding her scooter. Lompoc Police say that alcohol or drugs are not considered a factor in the crash.
The girl’s grandmother told KCOY News that she feels a citation isn’t enough for what’s been done. “It’s not fair,” she said.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian crash, you can be faced with expensive medical bills and rehabilitation costs, loss of wages, and permanent disability. The pedestrian accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand are dedicated to providing our clients with the experienced and compassionate legal representation they deserve. We promise to fight for your legal rights and will tenaciously seek the maximum compensation you will need to speed you on your road to recovery.
If you have questions about your case, call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can also be contacted online. We are here to help you and your family.
Highway 101 Big-Rig Crash Suit Ordered to Mediation
The truck accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand have learned that a San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge has ordered the involved parties in a high profile personal injury lawsuit to engage in mediation.
We had reported earlier that a San Juan Capistrano family had filed a personal injury lawsuit against a trucking company and the estate of the deceased trucker involving a rear-end accident that left a mother and her two children injured and their BMW hanging precariously from a bridge on Highway 101 near Buellton. They were eventually rescued with the aid of a forklift.
It was later determined that the truck driver who rear-ended the BMW had methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system. He died in the crash.
The family claims that the occupants of the BMW suffered emotional distress and personal injuries as a result of the crash. They are seeking compensation for emotional damages, personal injuries and medical expenses.
By ordering the mediation, the judge basically told the parties involved to try to settle the suit out of court. Mediation involves negotiating a case with the aid of a neutral person. The family’s attorney told the Santa Maria Times that the family was not at the case management conference where the judge determined the case should go to mediation
Often, personal injury suits involving significant injury will end up in mediation. While both sides in mediation are generally there to settle, the process still takes time and requires the services of knowledgeable legal representatives who are looking out for your best interests. If your case goes to mediation, the personal injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand fully understand the process and will always aggressively seek to get the compensation your family deserves.
Have you been involved in an accident caused by a negligent truck driver? Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530 for a free, no-obligation review of your case.
Two Bicyclists Injured During Collision on Highway 135
Officials are still trying to piece together what happened in an accident that left two bicyclists injured on Highway 135 in the Orcutt-Santa Maria area. One of the cyclist’s injuries was so severe that he was airlifted to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Details are still sketchy, but what is known is that the two cyclists were hurt in a collision with a vehicle in the afternoon. Two emergency vehicles arrived on the scene, plus a Cal Star helicopter was dispatched to ferry the more seriously injured bicyclist to the hospital. Highway 135 had to be closed for a period to allow the emergency helicopter to land
According to Noozhawk.com, the other cyclist suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital by ground. A spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said that the accident is still under investigation. There is no current word as to the condition of the more seriously injured bicyclist.
The bicycle accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand in Santa Barbara have represented injured bicyclists and the families of bicyclists killed in bicycle accidents for more than a quarter of a century.
Our law firm has the resources to conduct an independent investigation of your accident and we are dedicated to aggressively pursuing all available avenues to assure that you get fair compensation when you have been injured in a bicycle accident caused by the negligence of another person.
It is important that you seek legal representation as soon as possible after you have been injured in a bicycle accident that was not your fault. Remember that a statute of limitations in California limits the time you will be able to file a personal injury claim, so you should seek our services sooner rather than later — even if you haven’t decided whether you want to pursue a legal remedy.
The Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand offers you the experience you need to move your case forward and get the compensation you deserve. Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530 for a free review of your case.