Defective & Dangerous Products

• Even Barbie's Puppy Cannot Escape Lead Paint Recall

  Clayton Kent | September 05, 2007 4:21 PM | 0 CommentsNovato, CA

  The Mattel toy recalls have now reached Barbie. Mattel voluntarily recalled more toys as a result of lead paint posing a dangerous threat to infants and small children. Barbie's own puppy has been recalled due to toxic levels of lead paint, as have many other product lines. This is now the third recall of Mattel toys, and it includes 675,000 Barbie accessories, but for now, Barbie herself is...

• Defective Cell Phone Battery Poses Potential for Injury

  Clayton Kent | August 15, 2007 4:58 PM | 0 CommentsNovato, CA

  Nokia has issued a voluntary product advisory concerning a specific battery used in their phones, that can overheat during charging, and pose a potential for fire and injury. In August, Nokia, the leading manufacturer of cell phones, issued a product advisory for the Nokia-branded BL-5C battery. Matsushita Battery Industrial Co. Ltd. of Japan manufactured the BL-5C battery for Nokia between...

• Mattel Issues Recall of Defective Toys

  Clayton Kent | August 14, 2007 3:47 PM | 0 CommentsNovato, CA

  For the second time in a month, Mattel, the largest toy company in the world, issued a recall of defective toys that were manufactured in China. The company, in a statement issued from its American headquarters, said it was recalling a total of 436,000 toys marketed in the United States and elsewhere that had "impermissible levels of lead." As a result, the export license of Lee Der...

• Consumer Product Safety: Is Michael Baroody the Fox Guarding the Henhouse?

  Laura Blatt | May 23, 2007 12:24 AM | 0 CommentsNovato, CA

  President Bush's nominee to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is none other than Michael Baroody, the vice president of the industry-driven National Association of Manufacturers. This group makes the products that the Commission regulates and its members include corporate giants such as Dow Chemical and Proctor & Gamble. Mr. Baroody is known for lobbying against fire-safe...

• Defective Products: Do You Have a "Killer Stove"?

  Laura Blatt | May 21, 2007 9:50 PM | 0 CommentsNovato, CA

  "Killer stoves" have caused the deaths of 33 people and injured at least 84 others from 1980 through 2006, according to Public Citizen and the Consumer Federation of America. The groups are referring to freestanding kitchen ranges that can easily topple over, crushing their victims or causing burns from spilled hot foods. Manufacturers began using lighter, cheaper materials in freestanding...

• Homes Examined for Construction Defect Lawsuit

  Christina Cole | April 22, 2007 6:28 AM | 0 CommentsNovato, CA

  A team of men, carrying clipboards and cameras, started checking northwest Lodi neighborhoods, last week. Crawling about, through and over homes in what will likely be over 50 detailed inspections.The inspections are related to a construction defect lawsuit that includes 90 owners of 54 homes in Towne Ranch that were built from 1994 to 2002, according to documents that were filed in San Joaquin...

• Pet Food Recalled by Menu Foods

  Christina Cole | March 16, 2007 5:45 AM | 0 CommentsNovato, CA

  Menu Foods issued a precautionary pet food recall of their dog and cat food manufactured between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. The recall involves "cuts and gravy" style pet foods in cans and pouches that was manufactured at two of Menu Food's U.S. facilities. These same products are manufactured and sold as 94 different private label/national brands.Menu Foods received several complaints...