Products Liability

September 21, 2019

Vapes Cause Hospitalizations in Illinois

An 18-year-old from Gurnee, Illinois has filed a lawsuit against JUUL Labs in the wake of his hospitalization caused by use of the e-cigarettes.

Chicago personal injury lawyer, Peter Zneimer notes that this suit comes after weeks of media reports of hospitalizations of hundreds across the United States due to “mysterious” respiratory conditions, some of which turned fatal. As of today, there have been at least 6 deaths attributed to the deadly conditions.

The first victim of this epidemic died in Illinois, the CDC reported on Aug. 23. In the last month alone, the number of hospitalizations skyrocketed across the United States, with 380 cases now confirmed across 36 states. 52 of those cases have been confirmed in Illinois. (CDC)

September 13, 2015

Bacterial Infections linked to Duodenoscopes: The Role of Device Makers, Hospitals, and the FDA

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The Chicago Products Liability attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. take note of a lawsuit filed in Cook County extending from the use a medical device alleged to have caused the wrongful death of a patient. As reported by the Tribune, the lawsuit claims that 82-year-old Renate Winkler died after a contaminated duodenoscope used in a procedure performed at Park Ridge’s Advocate Lutheran General Hospital caused her to contract an antibiotic-resistant bacteria called carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE). The lawsuit alleges negligence on behalf of both the device manufacturer (Pentax) as well as the hospital (Advocate). This incident was not isolated, though. In fact, the spread of deadly superbugs linked to duodenoscope contamination has been the subject of several claims, not only against this particular hospital and/or this particular manufacturer, but in hospitals nationwide and against other duodenoscope manufacturers. What’s more, the FDA is now examining the role of duodenoscope infections, including potential reporting, tracking, and regulatory enforcement issues.

June 24, 2015

Keyless Ignition Safety Issue: Should Federal Regulators Intervene?

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Keyless ignitions are typically associated with convenience or theft-deterrence, and not with a risk of fatality. However, consider the combination of a keyless ignition and quiet engine, along with an enclosed space and little forgetfulness. The potential consequences—carbon monoxide poisoning. Prompted in part by the tragic death of a Highland Park couple last week, the Chicago Injury Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. comment on the dangers of keyless ignitions, and more importantly, the failure of federal regulators to take action to address a safety issue that they have been aware of for years.

June 10, 2015

Vehicle-component Warnings and Instructions: Automakers’ Duty to keep up with Improved Technologies

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

With so much attention focused on vehicle-component issues in the auto industry, it can be easy for a victim to overlook a potential claim against an automaker based upon an alternate theory. In addition to design and manufacturing related defects, product liability claims can also be grounded upon a defect in warning(s) or instruction(s) provided. Indeed, automakers have become increasingly aware of the potential for exposing themselves to liability due to improper, inadequate, or lack of warning or instruction—the result of which has led to significant improvements in recent decades, as well as a decrease in failure to warn/instruct claims. However, as technology continues to improve, auto manufacturers must remember their ongoing obligation to warn/instruct consumers in accordance with changes and improvements to safety features offered in new vehicles.

May 4, 2015

Ford Recalls Place Millions of Motorists in Danger

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The Chicago Auto Accident Injury Attorneys, of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., take note of several recent vehicle recalls affecting more than a million vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. The recalls involve later-models of the Ford Fusion, Fiesta, Edge, Focus, Transit Connect, F150, and Lincoln MKZ. Problems include door latch issues that prevent doors from latching properly or that can come unlatched while driving; steering gear motor components susceptible of corrosion, which can cause loss of power steering; faulty fuel pumps that can cause the car to stall; underbody heat shield issue that can cause fire; and parking lamp software issues.

April 28, 2015

Recall of Nearly a Million Trek Bicycles, Lawsuits Expected to Follow

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The Bicycle Accident Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer take note of the recall of nearly a million bicycles manufactured by Trek. This recall involves models of Trek bicycles equipped with front disc brakes that were produced from 2000 to 2015. According to the recall summary, released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) last week, “An open quick release lever on the bicycle’s front wheel hub can come into contact with the front disc brake assembly, causing the front wheel to come to a sudden stop or separate from the bicycle, posing a risk of injury to the rider.” The manufacturer reports three incidents associated with the product defect, each of which resulted in injury, including one victim becoming paralyzed, another that sustained a broken wrist, and a third that resulted in facial injuries.

October 15, 2014

Two Major Auto Manufacturers Recall over a Million Vehicles

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The Automobile Collision Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. take note of two recent auto manufacturer recalls, affecting more than a million vehicles, of various types and years, that present serious safety concerns to motorists, in the event a crash were to occur. On Tuesday, Chrysler announced a recall of more than 184,000 vehicles due to a short circuit issue that could potentially disable airbags and seat-belt petitioners. This announcement comes just three weeks following a recall by Ford Motor Co. affecting an estimated 850,000 vehicles, for the same restraint control module part.

August 19, 2014

Bicyclists Reminded to Check Bikes for Safety Recalls

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The Bicycle Crash Attorneys of Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. represent the victims and family members of those injured or killed in a bicycling-related accident. According to a study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, as many as 13% of bike injury incidents are associated with the mechanical failure of a bicycle. While many of these accidents are caused due to improper maintenance or other external factors, many occur as a result of bicycle that was defectively designed or manufactured. Consumers are reminded of the importance of keeping track of safety recalls.

Our concerns extend from the announcement of two separate bicycle recalls in the past month, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

Youth Bike Recall.

January 9, 2013

TV And Furniture Tip-Over Deaths On The Rise

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The Chicago product liability attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. reviewed a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stating that 349 individuals (84 percent being children younger than 9 years old) were killed by toppling TV’s or furniture between 2000 and 2001. The year 2011 had a record 41 deaths caused by toppling TVs or furniture. The CPSC is urging that TVs and furniture be anchored to stabilized to prevent tip-overs.

CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum urged: “We know that low-cost anchoring devices are effective in preventing tip-over incidents…I urge parents to anchor their TVs, furniture and appliances and protect their children. It takes just a few minutes to do and it can save lives.”

It is estimated that43,000 people are injured in tip over accidents with 59% percent of these injuries are to children under the age of 18. TVs seem to be particularly deadly, accounting for 62% of the deaths. In 57 percent of the death cases the victim was hit on the head by the falling object.

October 23, 2012

Laundry Detergent Pods Present Hazard For Children

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

According to a report recently released by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 1,008 cases of detergent poisoning among kids during a 30-day period this summer. Of these cases, 486 were caused by the new brightly colored laundry pods that have been heavily marketed lately and which young children mistake for candy. Poison centers have been seeing an average of 10 cases a day, the CDC reported.

Of these poisonings, ninety-four percent are children younger than 6 years old. Additionally, the CDC reports that children who ingested laundry pods got sicker than children who ingested other forms of laundry detergent.

Children who eat laundry pods may experience severe vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness and potentially life-threatening symptoms such as difficulty breathing.