As you may remember, 2015 was rife with vehicle recalls. According to news reports, there were in the neighborhood of 900 recalls in all, affecting tens of millions of vehicles. Issues such as sudden acceleration, faulty ignition switches, and Volkswagen’s infamous cheating on certain emissions tests made headlines throughout the year. Although…
A recent court decision focused on the Ortho Evra patch, a birth control option that prevents pregnancy by transferring synthetic hormones through the wearer’s skin. While arguably more convenient than other forms of birth control, the patch is not without risks, including death. In the case of Niedner v. Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical,…
There are many ways in which a product can be deemed defective. Sometimes, only a single defective product results from a manufacturing error. In other words, something went wrong during the process of making the product. In other cases, all of the products in a particular line are found to…
Product liability cases can arise in a wide array of situations, including on-the-job accidents. Recently, the Massachusetts Appeals Court was called upon to decide a case in which an allegedly defective product caused the death of a man who was inspecting a roof. Although the court’s opinion did not go into detail…
If it seems as if there have been considerably more recalls, fines, and product safety alerts than usual as of late, it is not your imagination. In all, some 973 vehicle, equipment, child safety seat, and tire recalls were issued in 2015, affecting 87,596,264 products. Now, the United States Department of Transportation…
The United States Supreme Court has two basic types of jurisdiction: original and appellate. “Original jurisdiction” refers to cases over which the Court may hold a trial and render a judgment based upon the facts and the law. By contrast, “appellate jurisdiction” is the power of a court to review and,…
In November, we told you about accusations – and a civil lawsuit – against national restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill. Since then, the number of customers allegedly sickened after consuming food in the restaurants has climbed significantly, with a number of Massachusetts consumers (including dozens of Boston College students) now included in…
As many as 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies or sensitivities to certain food products, such as tree nuts, peanuts, and gluten. For such consumers, exposure to certain allergens can cause reactions as mild as a headache and as severe as anaphylaxis. This is one of many reasons why the correct…
Think you’re safe from all the recent automobile recalls just because you drive a luxury car? Maybe not. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just added some 126,260 Mercedes-Benz vehicles to the ever-growing list of cars, trucks, and SUVs with potential safety issues. According to a letter from the NHTSA to…
As we have mentioned before on this website, there are numerous federal agencies that track recall information. For example, the Food and Drug Administration lists recalls of foods, medicines, and cosmetics, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists motor vehicles in which particular safety issues have been identified. Under…