By Shawn Kasserman

After weeks of resistance, more than 40 injured children, and a precipitous stock decline, Peloton has followed the advice of safety regulators and advocacy groups and recalled more than 125,000 units of its latest treadmill model, Tread+. It is now offering full refunds for the $4,295 machines, effective until November 6, 2022.

The move comes seven weeks after Peloton’s CEO, John Foley, announced that he had learned of one death and a “small handful of incidents” related to children getting trapped underneath the newly released treadmill.

By: Eddie Hettel

A recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States will make it easier for victims of negligence to pursue their claims in the forum of their choosing.

In Ford Motor Co. v. Montana Eighth Judicial Dist. Court, the Supreme Court considered consolidated cases alleging damages resulting from a defective Ford vehicle. In each case, a state court ruled that it had jurisdiction over Ford Motor Company in a product liability suit resulting from a motor vehicle accident. Ford asked to have both suits dismissed, claiming lack of personal jurisdiction. Ford argued that state courts had jurisdiction only if conduct by the company in the state had led to the plaintiff's claims. Ford argued that such a link existed only if the specific vehicle that was involved in the accident had been designed, manufactured, or sold in the state.

Consumers across the country have been put on high alert after several victims suffered second and third-degree burns from Power Pressure Cooker XL explosions. The tops of the appliances have been malfunctioning and injuring users. Those near the exploded pressure cookers are subjected to scalding steam and hot liquid expelling from the units.

The Power Pressure Cooker XL is manufactured by the TriStar Products, Inc. company, established in New Jersey, and were sold to big-box retailers such as Target, Wal-Mart, and Bed Bath & Beyond. The “as seen on TV” product disclaimer states that the lid of the pressure cooker cannot be removed until after internal pressure has dissipated and it is safe. However, consumers in the states of Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania have suffered wrongdoing.

The Power Pressure Cooker XL explosions have injured a number of people including a woman who received severe burns to her torso and injuries to children ranging from 9-months-old to 14-years-old. The hot liquids and pressure building up in these appliances have the capability to cause severe injuries and long-term health issues when the lids explode.

Children are meant to be protected – parents and caregivers do their best, but are often unaware of the risks/damages which manufacturers are keenly aware of. More should be done to protect children, particularly when it comes to the manufacturing industry. In fact, there was a time when more than 600,000 children visited the emergency room because of injuries caused by dangerous products (the year 2000). Since that time, laws have been passed, tracking and monitoring have taken place, and improvements have been made. But, according to recent data from Kids in Danger (KID), there is still much work to be done.

Injuries and Number of Recalls Decreased

Of the 225 products recalled in 2001, more than half were children’s products (118). On average, that was about two new recalls per week. Linked to 672 child injuries and two deaths that year, toys accounted for 41 percent, 23 percent were nursery items, 14 percent were clothing items, and sports equipment accounted for 23 percent of child product recalls. Totals from 2014 show the industry has made massive improvements, with a 95 percent decrease in injuries since the passing of Danny’s Law in 2008 (36 in 2014). The number of products recalls has also decreased, and only 24 percent of the recalls in 2014 were of products made for children (68 recalls in total) – the lowest since KID began tracking recalls.

By Shawn Kasserman

Intravenous (IV) solutions are intended to hydrate or rehydrate patients while under the care of a physician, surgeon, or other applicable healthcare professional. Administration of the solution is handled by licensed professionals, and the patient has no say or knowledge regarding any potential adverse events from a contaminated bag. This makes the recent recall of Baxter IV solutions highly concerning for anyone that has recently visited the hospital, undergone surgery, or otherwise received IV solutions.

About the Recall