Articles Posted in Product Liability

Published on: December 6, 2022

New Study Finds Benzene In Many Dry Shampoos

beautiful-2405131_640 Recently, an independent lab and healthcare research group discovered that the chemical benzene is in several dry shampoo brands. Benzene is known to cause cancer. Around 70% of the samples tested by the lab Valisure had elevated benzene levels and a few of these brands included benzene that was up to 170x the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limit of 2 ppm (PPM). If you developed cancer and suspect it was the result of using dry shampoo, please call the experienced Chicago based product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group. Billions have been recovered in product liability lawsuits with which we’ve been involved.

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Valisure tested 148 batches from 34 brands of dry shampoo. These brands included Batiste, Sebastian, and Not Your Mother’s. Subsequently, the researchers petitioned the FDA asking the FDA to recall those products it found contained carcinogens through its study. Valisure also asked the FDA to update the guidelines for the regulation of benzene. Valisure CEO David Light commented that the detection of high levels of benzene and dry shampoo may be cause for significant concern because the dry shampoo is likely used inside where benzene could linger and be inhaled for prolonged periods. Lights also commented that independent testing is important in numerous personal care products; benzene has been detected in body spray, hand sanitizer, and sunscreen.

It is important to be aware that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that benzene is one of the leading 20 chemicals commonly used in production. Benzene is a colorless liquid with the sweet odor that evaporates into the air quickly, and it harms humans when they are exposed through inhalation Unfortunately, when a consumer is exposed for prolonged periods, he or she may lose red blood cells and develop anemia as well as leukemia, which is cancer of blood-forming organs.

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Published on: November 29, 2022

Tylenol Claims Are Consolidated in a Multidistrict Litigation

By Moll Law Group

pregnant-6189040_640-e1667399970298 Recent scientific studies have revealed that using Tylenol or even generic acetaminophen while pregnant can result in a disruption to fetal development. This disruption can increase the gestating babies chances of having autism. As a result of this research, parents of children with autism and ADHD have brought product liability lawsuits against manufacturers of acetaminophen products. Lawsuits that pursue damages for autism allegedly caused by Tylenol have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation because they have common questions of fact and law. At Moll Law Group, our Chicago-based product liability lawyers may be able to represent you in a lawsuit to recover damages.

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Tylenol is a brand name for acetaminophen. It’s the most popular over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical in the country, and millions take it for fever and pain relief. While it’s been viewed as a harmless medication for more than half a century, the mechanism by which it works to relieve pain is still not well understood. The drug has been marketed to pregnant women as the safest choice for OTC pain relief when they are pregnant, and it is often used to relieve pains during pregnancy, as a result.

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Published on: November 22, 2022

Treadmills Recalled Due to Fall Hazards

By Moll Law Group

fitness-4999754_640-e1667399658522 Johnson Health Tech Trading recently recalled Horizon T101-5 folding treadmills on October 27, 2022. It has been found that they unexpectedly change speeds. They may randomly accelerate or without a user inputting a change. Around 192,000 units of the treadmill were recalled in the United States; 7000 units that had been sold in Canada were also recalled. The treadmill has a running area that is 55 inches by 20 inches wide. It has a 33-inch wide console. Red LEDs on the display give the user workout information. If you were injured or a loved one passed away because of a treadmill accident, and you suspect there was a product defect, you should give our seasoned Chicago-based product liability lawyers a call.

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Only a certain model of treadmill, the Horizon Fitness T101-05, is included in the recalls. If your treadmill was affected by the recall, you will see Horizon T101-5 printed on the treadmill’s serial number label. The model number and serial number are located on the metal frame by the power switch. As a consumer, you should immediately stop using a recalled treadmill and talk to Horizon to get a free USB with a software repair to install on your treadmill.

Roughly 875 reports that treadmills unexpectedly altered speed or stopped outright have been made. Users have reported at least 71 injuries, both minor injuries like bruises, and more serious ones like broken bones.

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Published on: November 15, 2022

Kia Recall Based on Fire Risks

By Moll Law Group

car-engine-1548434_640 Recently Kia recalled around 70,000 of its Sorento and Sportage SUV models from 2016 – 2023. This recall enlarged a prior recall that asked owners to park outside because there was flawed tow hitch that presented a fire risk. If you or a loved one were injured because of a fire, you should call the experienced Chicago-based product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group.

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When engine fires occur, they can have devastating consequences. Kia has recalled certain models of its car. Car owners must have their cars repaired under a new recall. The specific models affected in this last recall are the Sorento model years 2016-2022, Sorento Hybrid model years 2021-2023, Sorento Plug-in Hybrid 2022-2023 and the Kia Sportage 2017-2022. The manufacturer believes that 1% of the recalled cars have a defect. In 2021, around 174,000 highway vehicle fires were reported across the country in 2021, up slightly from the prior year’s tabulation of highway vehicles fires.

This recall expand on one that was issued in August. That recall advised owners of certain Kia Telluride SUV models—36,000 altogether—to park outside because of a similar issue. The August recall also affected 245,000 Hyundai Palisade SUV models.

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Published on: November 8, 2022

Product Liability Lawsuit Filed Against L’Oréal For Its Hair Relaxer

By Moll Law Group

african-american-1180847_640 Recently, a woman filed a lawsuit against cosmetics manufacturer L’Oréal and several other companies. She alleges that hair straightening products put her at increased risk of uterine cancer and asked for monetary damages and the cost of medical monitoring. In the research studies that support the case, the link between hair relaxers and uterine cancer was strongest among black women. It is believed that the recently filed lawsuit is one of many potential suits to come that involve companies that misled women about the safety of hair relaxers to increase profits. If you developed uterine cancer because of a hair relaxer, you should give the seasoned Chicago-based lawyers of Moll Law Group.

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The plaintiff in the case that was recently filed was 32-year old Jenny Mitchell who is a woman of color that started getting hair relaxers around third grade when she was age 8. The complaint alleges her uterine cancer was both directly and legally caused by long-term and regular exposure to chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system, including phthalates. She used chemical straightening products between 2000-2022 and is asking for compensation of more than $75,000. She was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2018 and had to undergo a full hysterectomy, as a result of which she cannot bear a child. She does not have a known family history of uterine cancer.

In connection with her lawsuit, she said that most young African American girls are introduced to chemical hair straighteners as young girls. She alleged that society has made straight hair the norm; many people feel pressured to straighten their hair and use hair relaxers. Black and Latina women who don’t straighten their hair may experience workplace discrimination, and that further incentivizes the use of dangerous relaxers.

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Published on: November 1, 2022

Johnson & Johnson’s Attack on Consumer Protection

By Moll Law Group

towels-5961628_1280-e1665172973117 Around 20,000 women get an ovarian cancer diagnosis each year. For more than half, the illness is fatal. Johnson & Johnson has spent billions on lawsuits related to talc. A recent piece in the New Yorker outlined the new legal strategy the company’s executives have used to halt the substantial litigation—if the strategy is successful, other companies may use it, too, and this could harm future claims brought by injured consumers. If you suffered ovarian cancer and believe it may have been caused by Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder (or talcum powder made by a different manufacturer), you should call the Chicago-based product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group. Our firm represents injured consumers and billions have been recovered in the cases with which we’ve been involved.

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Risk factors for ovarian cancer include a family history of reproductive cancer, use of fertility drugs, being overweight, unhealthy diet, and prior cancer diagnosis. Another risk factor is use of talcum powder. Research underlying the claims of a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association didn’t find a statistically significant connection between talc and ovarian cancer; however it also didn’t necessarily distinguish between talc-containing powders and baby powders that didn’t contain talc. Other studies have found a significant connection between women who used talc for feminine hygiene and cancer.

Once aware of a potential risk, many manufacturers stopped using talc—cornstarch in baby powder is cheap and safer. But Johnson & Johnson continued to use talc in spite of the complex issues around its use, and in spite of being a brand with influence and trusting consumers. The company’s slogan was, for a time: “A sprinkle a day helps keep odor away.”

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Published on: October 25, 2022

Juul Settlement for Teen Vaping Investigation

By Moll Law Group

vape-3417374_640 Initially, Juul Labs sold pods for its e-cigarettes in a wide range of flavors and promoted them using strategies that would appeal to young people. Teens began vaping at school, between classes and during breaks. However, in recent years, the company has come under scrutiny; the public has learned that teens are getting addicted while vaping, and harmed. Recently, Juul announced that it will pay close to $440 million to settle a two-year investigation conducted by 33 states into the marketing of its vaping products, which may have increased teen vaping across the country. If your teen was harmed by vaping in the course of using Juul Labs’ or other electronic cigarettes, you should call the experienced Chicago-based product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group.

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Juul reached a deal between itself and certain states and Puerto Rico, which banded together in 2020, to investigate the company’s early promotion of e-cigarettes, which involved the claim that it was providing a smoking alternative. However, investigators found that part of the company’s marketing efforts were to underage teenagers. They presented launch parties, product giveaways, ads, and social media posts that utilized young looking models.

As part of the settlement, Juul will not only need to pay $38.5 million over 6 – 10 years but will also need to accept the mandates of injunctive terms. Some of the settlement money received by states will go towards preventing teen vaping. Post-settlement, Juul will still face 9 other distinct lawsuits in other states. It simultaneously faces hundreds of lawsuits filed on behalf of teenagers and others who became addicted to its products.

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Published on: October 18, 2022

Eliminating Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sexual Abuse

By Moll Law Group

boy-1666611_6401 President Biden recently signed the Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act. This bill eliminates the statute of limitations for civil claims filed by those who were sexually abused as minors. The Senate passed the law by unanimous vote earlier this year, and it passed by the House by voice vote recently. It covers federal lawsuits involving minors who went through human trafficking, child pornography, sexual abuse, or forced labor. Although a significant percentage of childhood sexual abuse goes unreported, the signing of the bill is a huge step forward for survivors hoping for justice. If you were harmed by childhood sexual abuse, you should call the seasoned personal injury lawyers of Moll Law Group.

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Historically, minors who survived childhood sexual abuse could file federal civil claims until they arrived at age 28 or, alternatively, for ten years after they discovered a violation or injury. Criminal claims arising out of childhood sexual abuse were not subject to a federal statute of limitations. The recently signed bill eliminates time constraints for survivors to file civil claims related to a range of sex abuse crimes against minors, including forced labor, sex trafficking, sexual abuse, aggravated sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation of children.

Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois and Marsha Blackburn introduced the bipartisan bill. Senators Dianne Feinstein, John Cornyn, and Patrick Leahy co-sponsored it. Senator Durbin commented on how long it typically takes for victims to come forward after suffering these kinds of trauma in his statement once the House had passed the bill. Organizations that endorsed the law include RAINN, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV), CHILD USA, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

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Published on: October 11, 2022

Lawyers for Injuries Arising Out of Exactech Implant Systems

By Moll Law Group

operation-1807543_6401-300x217 Exactech is a leading maker of implant systems, medical devices, used in joint replacement surgeries. The company had recalled all its knee, hip & ankle replacement implants made after 2004 when it was found that a packaging defect resulted in degradation of a polyethylene insert prior to use. When an insert prematurely fails, a patient may experience severe pain; the failure may necessitate a revision surgery to replace it. Recently, in the course of a hearing, the cases were consolidated in multidistrict litigation. If you were harmed by an Exactech implant system, you should discuss your claim with the knowledgeable product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group.

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An orthopedic surgeon, along with a biomedical engineer and organizational culture advocate, founded Exactech to develop and make joint implants, which are used by surgeons to relieve pain and also allow for mobility. Exactech’s product line includes software and instruments, along with biologics meant to accelerate wound healing. The company’s primary products are hip, shoulder, ankle, and knee replacement devices with varying names. Novation, Alteon, and BIOLOXdelta are Exactech hip replacement models.

Studies have revealed that the company’s hip implants have a 5-year survival rate, which means there is a lower chance that an implant would need to be replaced in 5 years. Over a period of years, Exactech has faced lawsuits based on allegations that it knowingly sold defective products to government entities and participated in unlawful consulting agreements with doctors. The company faces numerous legal claims based on the circumstances of its recall of ankle and knee implants last year and this year. The Novation Element Step had at least a 92.4% survival rate at 5 years. The authors of the study stressed that further long-term studies were needed to evaluate performance over time.

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Published on: September 20, 2022

Manufacturer Class 1 Recall of the Hamilton-C6 Intensive Care Ventilator

By Moll Law Group

healing-g05658ec7b_640-e1662149522499 Recently, Hamilton Medical AG recalled its Hamilton-C6 Intensive Care Ventilator after discovering potential water ingress, the result of a potential defect, could halt breathing support. The water ingress was found in the course of investigating a customer complaint that demonstrated loose hardware in the status indicator board for the ventilator. As a result, water can seep between the main board and the indicator board. This is a class I recall, which means it’s serious and that using the ventilator could result in a patient’s severe injury or death. For that reason, it’s imperative that patients and their doctors not use the ventilator in question. If you or a loved one were injured by the Hamilton-C6 Intensive Care Ventilator, you should call the seasoned product liability attorneys of Moll Law Group. Billions have been recovered in claims and lawsuits with which we’ve been involved.

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Doctors use the ventilator in question to give infants, children, and adults breathing support through a tube inserted into the airway, nose or mouth, or a face mask. However, water ingress could cause the ventilator to revert to its safety mode or ambient state, or provide flawed services, which means the machine would not provide the help patients need. Another, alternate source of ventilation would need to be given —the patient could suffer hypoxia, a brain injury caused by lack of oxygen. Another possible injury the patient could suffer is carbon dioxide build-up. The worst outcomes are death.

While there have been 128 complaints around the world about this issue with the ventilator, there have been no reported injuries or deaths so far. The manufacturer issued a Field Safety Notice with specific guidance on June 27, 2022. The Notice recommended that doctors and hospitals check the ventilators in question if they’re in use and let the distributor know right away if the status indicator board had come loose, in which case, the front housing of the ventilator has to be replaced. The replacement should occur immediately so that a patient doesn’t suffer injury, and doctors have been instructed to give a patient alternative ventilation.

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