Lawsuits are good for America.  This article from Harper’s Magazine is a little long, but worth the read. https://harpers.org/archive/2016/04/suing-for-justice/

Don’t bet your child’s life on a bad skull bucket.  The helmet’s plastic shell can crack where the straps attach, causing the helmet to shift and move on the wearer’s head.  Get your refund and a new helmet lickety-split. Source: Rollerblade USA Recalls Helmets Due to Head Injury Hazard

Twenty-five people are suing a hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts after the hospital used unsterilized equipment.  Baystate Noble Hospital failed to properly sanitize equipment used for colonoscopies in 2012 and 2013.  At least 293 patients were affected, and Baystate Noble is testing each of those patients who choose to be tested.  At this point, at least…

Source: IKEA Recalls Children’s Bat Cape Costumes Due to Strangulation Hazard

The estate and family of a mentally ill Oregon man have filed suit against the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for the man’s death in prison.  Bradley Thomas, 55, was found dead of significant dehydration in his cell two weeks after being booked on misdemeanor allegations.  The autopsy classified the death as a “sudden death in…

Another terrifying bit of life or death news from Black Diamond.  A nylon runner with a tape splice (two cut ends joined by masking tape) will fail in normal use. To give them some credit, this is the second equipment recall they announced today — BEFORE there have been any injuries or deaths known to…

Friends, if you bet your life on this equipment you need to stop right now and get the free replacements.The carabiner can unexpectedly open and allow the rope to become detached, posing a risk of injury or death to climbers from a fall. Source: Black Diamond Recalls to Inspect Carabiners Due to Fall Hazard

The family of Robert Beck, an 18 year-old quadriplegic former football player, has filed suit in Montana against Beck’s coach, athletic trainer, and school district.  Beck suffered an on-field concussion in September of 2014, and his doctors ordered that he stay off the field.  The lawsuit claims that Beck’s coach and trainer ignored the doctor’s…

The lopper handles can break when attempting to cut branches, posing a risk of serious injury and laceration.  It’s a vicious surprise if the handle snaps when you’re pushing hard to cut a branch.  Get the free replacement if you’ve got these shears at home! Source: Additional Injuries Prompt Reannouncement of Fiskars Recall of Bypass…

What Happened:  Judge Merrick Garland was announced by President Obama last week as the President’s nominee to fill the current vacancy on the Supreme Court of the United States (often referred to as “SCOTUS”).  If confirmed by the Senate, Judge Garland would be the 113th Supreme Court Justice and fill the vacancy created when Justice Antonin Scalia…

Pop Warner Football settled a lawsuit with a Wisconsin woman whose son committed suicide allegedly due to head injuries incurred while he played football as a child.  Debra Pyka filed the suit against Pop Warner because her son, Joseph Chernach, played in the league as a child and thereafter suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). …

Conductive foreign material was mixed into the battery cells during manufacturing, posing a risk of fire.  Things designed to sit on my lap should NOT burst into flames! Source: Panasonic Recalls Lithium-ion Laptop Battery Packs Due to Fire Hazard

Exercise is to make us healthy.  Don’t get injured by your equipment.  The blue flywheel can shatter while in use and throw metal pieces into the air. Source: RacerMate Recalls CompuTrainer Blue Flywheels Due to Risk of Injury

Cables damaged during manufacturing can come in contact with the metal body of the lamp.  A shocking event. Source: IKEA Recalls Floor and Table Lamps due to Shock Hazard

The lamp can separate from its base and fall onto consumers below, posing an impact hazard. Source: GE Lighting Recalls High-Intensity LED Replacement Lamps Due to Impact Hazard

A Baltimore woman is suing the Baltimore mayor, city council and two contractors for their negligent repair of a sewer system, which led to her toilet exploding.  The Plaintiff, Angela Wright was blown off the toilet “with great force and violence” according to the lawsuit.  Beyond the mental anguish that comes with being thrown off…

If you got propane from Crescent Point Energy you may have gotten a bad batch.The recalled propane does not have sufficient levels of odorant to help alert consumers of a gas leak. Failure to detect leaking gas can present fire, explosion and thermal burn hazards.  Call the company ASAP — Don’t try to test on…

If you have a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Challenger or Chrysler 300, you need to read this.  They can start moving when the car is in park.

The arm bar can bend or detach during use, posing a fall hazard to children.A highchair is high enough for a fault cause a permanent brain injury.  If you have one of these, keep baby out until you get the free repair. Source: Nuna Baby Essentials Recalls High Chairs Due to Fall Hazard

The fan heaters can overheat, posing a fire hazard.  A heater that gets hot is nice.  A heater that overheats and catches fire — not so much. Source: CE North America Recalls Fan Heaters Due to Fire Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Bed Bath & Beyond

Don’t let your dive computer send you around the bends.  (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun.)  Seriously, when you dive your life can depend on your dive computer.  Get the free replacement before you dive again.  A short circuit allows the dive computer’s screen to freeze or display inaccurate information, posing a risk of serious…

Do you have a Microsoft surface Pro?  Get the power cord replaced before you get burned or shocked. The AC power cords for Pro, Pro 2 & Pro 3 tablets can overheat, posing fire or shock hazards to consumers. Source: Microsoft Recalls AC Power Cords for Surface Pro Devices Due to Fire, Shock Hazards

The four suction cups on the underside of the rugs can fail to prevent slipping, posing a fall hazard to the user.  Bathtub falls can be deadly.  What’s in your tub? Source: Tristar Products Recalls AquaRug Shower Rugs Due to Fall Hazard

Source: Preventable Ford Airbag Death Touches off Latest Recalls | Safety Research & Strategies, Inc.  Exploding airbags that expel deadly shrapnel are in more vehicles than the car companies want you to know about.  People are being killed by the airbag which should have saved them turning into a bomb which kills them.  If this happens…

The car seat carry handle can crack and break allowing the seat to fall unexpectedly, posing a risk of injury to the infant.  I hate dropping Baby on her head — you probably do, too.  Get the free fix! Source: CPSC, NHTSA and Britax Announce Recall of Infant Car Seats Due to Fall Hazard