Product Safety & Liability Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

E. COLI

– Tainted hamburger alleged cause of infection, dancer and meat producer settlement (D. Minn.), 496

E-MAIL

– Class action litigators, notification systems, legal implications and technical challenges, 100

ECONOMIC INJURY

See COMPENSATORY DAMAGES

EDRs

See EVENT DATA RECORDERS (EDRs)

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

– Pa., Springfield Twnshp. Sch. Dist., teachers' lunch room fire origin, vending machine malfunction theory (E.D. Pa.), 70

EFFEXOR

– Learned intermediary defense, failure to warn of suicide risks (W.D. Pa.), 214
– Suicide warnings, 10 sets of plaintiffs challenge, preemption rejected (3d Cir.), 918

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

– Safety standard for electrical systems, international group adopts standard, 282
– Shock risks safety requirements, NHTSA final rule, 639
– Sound device for “silent” cars

– – Pedestrian safety measure

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 841

– – UN working group developing global standard, 954

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS

– Buses, Blue Bird Vision, BNA monthly recall report, 519
– Circuit breakers

– – Spring clip can break, fire hazard, Siemens Industry and CPSC recall, 1000; BNA monthly recall report, 1083
– – Square D counterfeit, fire hazard, CPSC recall, 850; BNA monthly recall report, 978

– Discovery Kids lamps, circuit board, causes electrical short, fire and burn hazard, BNA monthly recall report, 256
– Engine control module relay problem, Nissan voluntary recall of affected vehicles, NHTSA Recall #10V-517, 1134; BNA monthly recall report, 1284
– Fluke voltage testers, BNA monthly recall report, 378
– Heavy duty outdoor extension cords and power strips, coating smaller than required, fire hazard, recall, 341; BNA monthly recall report, 519
– Intermittent failure, Volvo XC90 2004-2005, NHTSA preliminary probe, 798
– Mazda CX-9, seat heater control circuit overheating, NHTSA Recall #10V-051, BNA monthly recall report, 256
– Navistar Intl. Trucks, optional jump-star stud, corrosion at base could cause electrical short, NHTSA Recall #10V-107, 378
– Power adapters for pet beds, fire and burn hazard, Radio Systems recall, 692; BNA monthly recall report, 886
– Pumptec electronic motor controllers for submersible pump systems, product label adhesion loss, shock hazard, BNA monthly recall report, 256
– Safety standard for hybrid and electric vehicles, international group adopts standard, 282
– Scotsman commercial modular cube ice machines, solenoid failure, fire hazard, BNA monthly recall report, 256
– Wrongful death claim in electrocution, spoliation of evidence as separate tort (Utah), 526

ELECTRONIC PLATFORMS

See INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND NETWORKS

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS

See also CRASH AVOIDANCE
– Toyota Sequoia, recall to upgrade software, unrelated to unintended acceleration, 452; BNA monthly recall report, 641

ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

– Global positioning devices, batteries overheat hazard, Garmin Intl. recall, NHTSA Recall #10E-039, 911; BNA monthly recall report, 978; Suzuki vehicles, NHTSA Recall #10V-392, BNA monthly recall report, 1083
– iPhone external antenna, dropped calls, class action proposed (D. Md., N.D. Cal., S.D. Tex.), 707
– iPod users allege risk of hearing loss, class action (9th Cir.), 23

ELEVATORS

– Failure to warn, repair technicians use wrong bolt type, maker faces claim in fall injury (N.Y. App. Div.), 627

EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICES

– Mercedes Benz, class action, assistance useless without analog signal (D.N.J.), 304

EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

– Taser, tire plant worker dies after being stunned, claim of estate (D. Kan.), 398

ENERGY

– High-pressure hoses and fittings, German maker doing business through Houston distributor, Tex. jurisdiction (Tex.), 265

ENGINES

– Cooling fans made by GM, blade fracturing, 2006 GMC, Chevrolet, and Isuzu trucks, NHTSA preliminary investigation PE 10-049, 1282
– Fires, Volkswagen Passats 2002-2003, NHTSA preliminary evaluation, 827
– GARA, U.S. and state statutes of repose, affirmative defense, immunity (Fla. Dist. Ct. App.), 271
– Non-crash fires, Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute, NHTSA investigation into effectiveness of 2007 recall, 76
– Stalling

– – Customer concerns about Toyota Corolla and Matrix vehicles, NHTSA investigation stalled, 279; recall of 1.1M vehicles, NHTSA Recall #10V-384, 909; BNA monthly recall report, 978
– – Water intrusion, Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans, NHTSA preliminary evaluation PE 10-033, 955

– Valve springs, Toyota recalls Lexus 460 and Crown luxury vehicles, NHTSA Recall #10V-309, 716; BNA monthly recall report, 886

ENVIRONMENT

– Cal. green chemistry initiative, proposed rules to reduce toxic chemicals of concern in consumer products, 455; opposition, 1279

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

– Cadmium data collection rule, agency agrees to issue, 926
– Declaration of principles to govern imports safety, 10 federal agencies agreement, 1136
– Flea and tick control, pet owners' class action, seek recall of pyrethrin-containing products, clearer warning labels (D.N.J.), 303
– Formaldehyde, draft toxicological review, 610; Waxman welcomes review, 611; meeting speakers challenge finding, 637

E.O.s

See EXECUTIVE ORDERS (E.O.s)

EQUIPMENT

– Automotive

See AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT

– Boating

See BOATS AND BOATING EQUIPMENT

– Construction and building

See CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS

– Electrical

See ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS

– Farm

See FARM EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

– Heating

See HEATERS AND HEATING EQUIPMENT

– Industrial

See INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

– Lighting

See LIGHTING EQUIPMENT

– Plumbing

See PLUMBING EQUIPMENT

– Sports and recreation

See SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

– Viagra, no witnesses or evidence support specific or general causation of stroke, res ipsa loquitur inference (E.D. La.), 471

ESCALATORS

– Apparent manufacturer, hand injury in Chinese department store, U.S. company liable (Mass. App. Ct.), 945

ETHICS

– Alternative litigation financing, attorneys model rules of conduct, issues paper, 1249
– Class actions and attorneys' fees, legal ethics fourth international conference, 767
– Ex parte interviews, treating physicians, permissible subject matter (N.D. Ohio), 97
– Revolving door relationship between NHTSA staffers and automakers, Boxer bill to close, 450

EUROPEAN UNION (EU)

– Bisphenol A daily allowable intake level, Food Safety Agency decision, 1027; infants' exposure, steps to reduce, 1080; baby bottles ban, 1227
– Regulatory cooperation among import markets, trilateral safety summit, 1135
– Window coverings, joint initiative with CPSC and Canada seeks international safety standards, 636

EVENT DATA RECORDERS (EDRs)

– Software, Toyota considering reconfiguring to record sudden acceleration, 251
– Toyota vehicles, sudden unintended acceleration, NHTSA initial findings, 847
– Trucks, NTSB recommendations, 1255

EVIDENCE

– Aircraft carburetor problems, prior malfunctions not similar enough to admit (Fla. Dist. Ct. App.), 972
– Circumstantial

– – Appliance fire, neither home owners nor third parties at fault, inference of range manufacturing defect, expert qualified and reliable (M.D. La.), 446
– – N.Y., principle allowed testimony without identifying defect in Ford Taurus, dismissed (2d Cir.), 327

– Class certification rulings, BNA Insight, 1112
– Daubert criteria

See DAUBERT CRITERIA

– Discovery

See DISCOVERY

– Dursban exposures, cerebral palsy and neurological problems, causation evidence not established (8th Cir.), 1239
– Experts

See EXPERT WITNESSES

– Fentanyl, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, reliability of femoral artery blood test, pain patch, wrongful death (Tex. Ct. App.), 357
– Levaquin, tendon rupture risk, evidence admissibility (D. Minn.), 1188; verdict, 1272
– Pain pumps intra-articular use, FDA documents re 510(k) clearance admissible (D. Or.), 1103
– Peer-reviewed scientific literature in mass tort and product liability litigation, challenging, BNA Insight, 745
– Rollovers

– – Substantial similarity doctrine wrongly applied, $11M verdict overturned (Fla. Ct App.), 652
– – Sudden acceleration, Ford Explorer accident, admissibility of expert testimony and evidence of other accidents (S.C.), 265

– Scientific data or studies showing causal link, woman with cirrhosis suit against Tylenol maker (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Kings Cnty.), 99
– Scientific method, Seroquel, weight gain and diabetes, prescribed for bipolar disorder, causation (N.J. Super. Ct.), 301
– Settlements, mesothelioma from asbestos exposure, pump maker seeks data about other accords (E.D. Pa.), 47
– Subsequent remediation, motorcycle owner use to prove product defect (5th Cir.), 139
– Tardive dyskinesia, sufficient evidence of Reglan use shown (S.D. Ala.), 418

EXECUTIVE ORDERS (E.O.s)

– Regulatory review process, OMB regulatory policy office head confident Clinton-era E.O. sufficient for most changes to process, Special Report, 481

EXPERT WITNESSES

– Antibiotic in animal feed, link to family's health ailments (N.M. Ct. App.), 1099
– Autism, traumatic brain injury causal link not shown, car seat maker not responsible (11th Cir.), 683
– Benzene exposure, bone marrow disease causation, testimony properly excluded (5th Cir.), 1018
– Bone screws broke, aviation metallurgist unqualified, product liability claim (D.N.J.), 924
– Burn injury from tea, Starbucks double-cup design use (2d Cir.), 1147
– Cold medicine containing PPA alleged cause of various aliments, testimony unreliable (Iowa), 185
– Complication rates, statistician testimony on invalidity of statistics for stress urinary incontinence, ethicist testimony on appropriateness of conduct excluded (M.D. Ga.), 469
– Contrast dye, gadolinium-based MDL, NSF in renally impaired persons (N.D. Ohio), 491
– Daubert criteria

See DAUBERT CRITERIA

– Dremel rotary power tool, warning label size adequacy (Cal. Ct. App.), 990
– Former employee, ObTape sling maker exclusion where not hired in anticipation of litigation or to prepare for trial (M.D. Ga.), 362; fact issues of design or manufacturing defects and warnings raised but no warranty claims without privity, 444
– Front fork failure, testimony of aircraft-coating expert who did not test bicycle improper, remanded for trial (2d Cir.), 442
– Halogen lamp alleged cause of fire, alternative causation theories not addressed (Tex.), 652
– Handheld torch explodes, experts needed to prove cause of blast (9th Cir.), 527; (U.S., rev den), 1152
– Hip implant, maker recall letter not admission of defective or unreasonably dangerous device (S.D. Ala.), 563; reconsideration of summary judgment order denied, 709
– HRT alleged cause of breast cancer, punitive damages retrial (U.S., opposition brief filed), 568; (rev den), 655
– Hydrogen sulfide, proof that worker exposure caused brain injury insufficient, dismissal affirmed (8th Cir.), 588
– Knee implants

– – Failure, admissibility of causation proof (N.D. Ill.), 118
– – Review of judgment for maker, causation evidence exclusion (7th Cir.), 94
– – Tibial insert post failure, defect most likely cause (S.D.N.Y.), 903

– Ladders, surprise evidence used to rebut plaintiff's claim for micro-crack (4th Cir.), 43
– Medical causation

– – Dursban, Cal. medical examiner testimony on exposure, non-Hodgkins lymphoma (W.D. Pa.), 273
– – Muscle damage expert exclusion, based on conclusory statements, weak scientific evidence, and temporal proximity (8th Cir.), 241

– Metoclopramide, proximate causation evidence not provided, judgment for maker (S.D. W.Va.), 1216
– Motorcycle circuit breaker defect alleged, blood spatter analogy, testimony excluded (Wash. Ct. App.), 1212
– Neurontin

– – Failure to warn claim, expert refuses to testify that drug caused symptoms (D. Mass.), 901
– – Off-label use, witness whose data analysis found no relationship between drug use and suicide admitted (M.D. Tenn.), 468; settlement, 535

– Pain pumps

– – Contribution and indemnity from physician sought by maker (E.D. Ky.), 501
– – Testimony inadmissible, claims for chondrolysis, summary judgment for maker (11th Cir.), 899

– Prempro, short-term use and breast cancer link, expert testimony admissible (D.P.R.), 1242
– Risk of administering anesthetic directly into joints, pain pumps, accord (S.D. Ohio), 305
– Rollover suffocation death, 2002 Hyundai Accent, design defect caused enhanced injury (N.M. Ct. App.), 653
– Scientific basis for conclusions, Requip, Parkinson's disease, failure to warn, pathological gambling (5th Cir.), 297
– Tasers, time between shot and death, causation inference (9th Cir.), 352
– Temporal relationship with diagnosis, expert failure to consider other causes for diabetes than Seroquel, deviation from standard diagnostic procedures (11th Cir.), 391
– Tires nylon cap ply theory unreliable, van overturned after sudden deflation (10th Cir.), 791
– Trasylol MDL, labeling requirements, regulatory expert testimony exclusion (S.D. Fla.), 1149
– Truck collision with median, steering gear replacement, expert testimony properly barred as unreliable (6th Cir.), 864
– Welding rods, manganese fumes and Parkinson's disease, “speculative” expert causation testimony (6th Cir.), 964
– Wobble decay standard, failure to conduct other tests and studies, admissibility ruling must precede class certification (7th Cir.), 390