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Listeria is one of the most common pathogens that pose a threat to consumers in our food production system. Recently, two major food retailers have made headlines after listeria and other potential issues were identified in their food products. Dole Fresh Vegetables has been named in a lawsuit claiming that a package of the company’s salad contaminated with listeria caused an Ohio woman who consumed it to go into a coma.

Also, international coffee chain Starbucks has recalled two of its breakfast sandwich items after concerns arose that the items may be contaminated with listeria or other allergens that pose a threat to consumers. According to the complaint, at least 18 people in the United States and 11 residents in Canada suffered illnesses and four people died as a result of consuming the contaminated salad products.

Food producers, processors, and retailers have a duty to ensure that the food they offer is prepared and stored in a reasonably safe manner and free from any pathogens that could contaminate the item.

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In a recent case, a child plaintiff sued BMW, claiming that his disabilities were caused by exposure to unleaded gasoline vapor from a defective fuel hose in his mother’s BMW when his mother was pregnant with him.

The Facts of the Case

In 1989, the plaintiff’s father bought his mother a new BMW 525i. The plaintiff’s mother was the only person who drove the car. In the spring of 1991, she noticed a smell of gasoline in the car at times. It caused her headaches, dizziness, and throat irritation. That summer, she became pregnant with the plaintiff. In November, a mechanic finally discovered a fuel leakage caused by a split fuel hose. The plaintiff was born in May 1992 with severe mental and physical disabilities. In 1994, BMW recalled all of their 525i vehicles made between 1989 and 1991, due to defects in the fuel hoses.

The plaintiff sued BMW in 2008, claiming that his disabilities were caused by exposure to unleaded gasoline vapor from a defective fuel hose in his mother’s BMW while he was in his mother’s womb. The plaintiff sued BMW in a personal injury action, claiming that the car’s defective fuel hose caused his injuries.

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The West Virginia legislature has passed a bill that adopts the learned intermediary rule for the state. This doctrine has major implications for liability in cases involving dangerous prescription drugs and defective medical devices. According to the learned intermediary doctrine, when a drug or device manufacturer provides a warning to the physician about the product, its intended uses, and its potential complications, and the doctor then interacts with the patient in regard to the drug or the device, the manufacturer cannot be held liable for damages arising from the consumer’s use of the drug or device.

Since its inception in 1995, the learned intermediary doctrine has been controversial. Opponents of the doctrine argue that it prevents consumers who have suffered severe harm due to a defective device or drug from recovering compensation from the manufacturer or distributor.

Proponents of the doctrine state that a physician who interacts with the patient after receiving instructions from the manufacturer or distributor is in the best position to inform the consumer. They also argue that manufacturers typically do not have direct routes to marketing their devices and pharmaceuticals to patients and consumers directly and that imposing a duty on the manufacturer would put an undue burden on the physician-patient relationship.

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If someone is killed by a gunshot when no one else was around, a lot of questions are left unanswered. It can be unclear whether it was an accident or whether the victim intended to take his own life. Even if it was an accident, it may be unclear what caused the gun to go off. Was it the victim’s own mistake, or was the gun defective? If a plaintiff wants to sue a gun manufacturer due to a defect, it can be a difficult case to prove. Plaintiffs often have to rely on experts to explain the defect and the cause of the accident.

In a recent case, a plaintiff struggled with these issues when she filed suit against Remington Arms Company, a gun manufacturer, after her husband died from a gunshot wound while hunting by himself. The plaintiff alleged that her husband died due to a defect in his gun, a Remington Model 700 bolt action rifle. After he failed to respond to text messages from his family, a family member went to look for him where he had been hunting. He was found dead in a tree stand with a single gunshot wound to his chest. His rifle was found on the ground 15 feet below where he was. The rifle’s safety mechanism was off, there was a spent cartridge casing in the chamber of the rifle, and there was a rope attached to the rifle.

The plaintiff’s expert had filed a report stating that the rifle fired due to a defect in its trigger system. The Remington Model 700 rifle includes a “Walker” fire control system. This particular fire control system was unique because it included a specially designed trigger mechanism. According to the expert, rifles with “Walker triggers” had fired unexpectedly before. He stated that because of the unique design, dirt, moisture, or other residue could cause the connector within the rifle to fail to return to its proper position—which then caused the rifle to fire. He stated that there was residue in the plaintiff’s husband’s rifle and that it could have hit a tree, the ground, or the rope, causing it to fire.

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Contaminación de los Comida es una seria amenaza para los consumidores y por una buena razón. Las enfermedades y lesiones que pueden resultar de consumir alimentos contaminados incluyen enfermedades graves, las condiciones que alteran la vida permanentes e incluso la muerte. Una de las cepas más notorios de enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos es la salmonela, que puede entrar en los productos alimenticios a través de una serie de canales. Los alimentos pueden contaminarse con salmonela durante la elaboración, envasado, manipulación o proceso si el manejador no se lava sus manos, o desinfecta las superficies en contacto con alimentos.

Cerca de 900 casos de brotes de salmonela relacionados con los pepinos contaminados han sido reportados en los Estados Unidos, incluyendo 241 en California, 43 en Minnesota, y 52 en Texas. Ha habido por lo menos seis muertes también. El material infectado estaba vinculado a Andrew & Williamson productos frescos, que importó los pepinos de México. Continue reading →

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Food contamination is a serious threat to consumers and for a good reason. The illnesses and injuries that can result from consuming contaminated food include severe illnesses, permanent life-altering conditions, and even death. One of the most notorious strains of foodborne illness is salmonella, which can enter food products through a number of channels. Food can become contaminated with salmonella during the processing, packaging, or handling process if the handler does not wash his or her hands, or disinfect food contact surfaces.

Nearly 900 cases of salmonella outbreaks related to contaminated cucumbers have been reported across the United States, including 241 in California, 43 in Minnesota, and 52 in Texas. There have been at least six deaths reported as well. The infected produce was linked to Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce, which imported the cucumbers from Mexico.

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En una reciente decisión judicial, Johnson & Johnson, el mayor fabricante del mundo de productos para el cuidado de la salud, debe pagar $72 millones a la familia de una mujer que afirmaba que los productos de la compañía causaron su cáncer de ovario y, finalmente, su muerte prematura. Este reciente veredicto fue la primera vez que un jurado encontró que Johnson & Johnson tiene que pagar daños relacionados con productos de talco de la compañía.

Los demandantes alegaron que el cáncer de ovario de la mujer fatal fue causado por el uso de polvos de talco de la compañía en sus productos, incluso en su talco para bebé y la marca Shower to Shower. Johnson & Johnson anuncio su producto Shower to Shower (que contiene talco) para la higiene femenina, afirmando que “solo un poquito al día mantiene el olor de distancia.” En 1999, la Sociedad Americana del Cáncer recomienda que las mujeres utilicen productos a base de almidón de maíz en la zona genital . El almidón de maíz es generalmente utiliza ahora en lugar de talco como un absorbente en polvo para bebés y productos de higiene femenina. Sin embargo, Johnson & Johnson sigue usando talco en algunos de sus productos y mantiene que es seguro. La mujer uso los productos durante 35 años para la higiene femenina. Hace más de tres años, se le diagnosticó un cáncer de ovario, lo que finalmente causó su muerte a los 62 años. Continue reading →

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In a recent court decision, Johnson & Johnson, the world’s largest maker of health care products, must pay $72 million to the family of a woman who claimed that the company’s products caused her ovarian cancer and ultimately her untimely death. This recent verdict was the first time a jury found that Johnson & Johnson had to pay damages related to the company’s talc-based products.

The plaintiffs claimed that the woman’s fatal ovarian cancer was caused by the company’s use of talcum powder in its products, including in its baby powder and Shower to Shower brand. Johnson & Johnson advertised its Shower to Shower brand (which included talc) for feminine hygiene, claiming that “just a sprinkle a day keeps odor away.” In 1999, the American Cancer Society advised women to use cornstarch-based products in the genital area. Cornstarch is generally now used instead of talc as an absorbent in baby powder and feminine hygiene products. However, Johnson & Johnson continues to use talc in some of its products and maintains that it is safe. The woman used the products for 35 years for feminine hygiene. More than three years ago, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which ultimately caused her death at age 62.

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One of the most popular gifts on everyone’s Christmas lists last year was a hoverboard. These devices appeal to everyone, from kids to adults, and offer a chance to see what futuristic travel might be like. For all the ads and articles about hoverboards, however, it seemed like there were just as many stories about users suffering severe injuries while using the devices.

Recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a federal agency tasked with overseeing product safety and consumer health, issued a letter that essentially made the existing voluntary safety standard for “self-balancing scooters” a mandatory set of requirements. The voluntary standard is known as UL 2272 and primarily focuses on the device’s electric drive train, rechargeable battery, and charging mechanism. The guidance is designed to test the entire device and protect against any electrical or fire-hazard safety issues.

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Construction sites can be very dangerous for workers. There are a number of injuries that can occur on the job. Workers are surrounded by dangerous machinery, and sometimes those machines can malfunction. However, even if a machine malfunctions, a plaintiff still has to prove that the company contributed to causing the injury in order to hold the company liable.

In a recent case, a construction worker who was injured by a crane while at work sued the company that leased the crane to his employer. However, the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit found that even though the crane had malfunctioned, it was not caused by the company’s failure to inspect the crane.

In September 2012, the plaintiff was working at a construction site, and he and his coworker were moving a crane to another location. They approached a road with overhead power lines that had to be lowered for the crane to cross. The plaintiff signaled to his coworker to stop the crane at the base of some wood matting placed to help the crane cross. The coworker stopped the crane, but then the crane began moving forward again. The crane pushed the wood matting down, causing the plaintiff to fall and slide toward the crane. His foot slipped under the treads of the crane, crushing his right foot. His foot was severely injured and had to be amputated.

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