Vlaw Legal and Consumer News

11,000 children’s swing sets, sold nationwide at Wal-Mart and Toys “R” Us, have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The swing set negligent design recall has been prompted by more than 100 reports of parts breaking, putting a serious risk to the safety of children using the toy. The hazardous product recall was issued by Backyard Leisure LLC.

The wooden swing sets, which come in four different styles, come with a variety of swings, slides, and gliders for children to play on. In each of the reports, customers say that the hangers supporting glider chains have broken due to negligent design. This can cause a child to fall off the moving glider, and the chain may strike the child in the head after breaking from its hanger.

Faulty design or manufacture of the Chinese-produced swing sets put the safety of children at risk, particularly because gliders are elevated and often in motion at the time the defect causes a problem. Backyard Leisure is instructing consumers to remove the glider from the swing set so it cannot be used. The company is offering free replacement glider hangers, as well as instructions on how to repair the product. The four styles included in the recall are the pathfinder, Conqueror, Cedar Ridge and Windsor styles. For more information, read the original press release.

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Chantix or Varenicline Tartrate as it is also known is a prescription medicine prescribed for smoking cessation. Chantix, unlike similar drugs in the past, does not contain nicotine. Instead of slowly lessening the nicotine levels in one’s body, Chantix attempts to reduce and ultimately eliminate cravings of those individuals taking it.

Since its FDA approval in May 2006, there have been hundreds of reports of serious psychiatric complications including agitation, suicidal behavior and/or successful suicide, depression and increased aggression levels in patients taking the drug.  These symptoms were linked but not limited to patients who suffered pre-existing mental conditions.

Pfizer, the drug manufacturer, maintains the position and opinion that the severe changes in mood and erratic behavior in Chantix users is due to the withdrawal of nicotine from the body. The FDA’s findings indicate that even those patients who had continued smoking had similar psychiatric episodes and that it is “increasingly likely that there may be an association between Chantix and serious neuropsychiatric symptoms”.

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Yet another set of children’s jewelry is being recalled due to high levels of lead paint. This time, the products are Makit & Bakit Jewelry Sets and Suncatcher Sets. More than 70,000 pieces were sold nationwide that are now included in the recall. Read on for specific product numbers.

The manufacturer, based in Michigan, is QuinCrafts. The following jewelry sets sold from August 2007 to March of this year for approximately $2:

For photos of the recalled toys and information on what to do, visit the official Consumer Product Safety Commission press release.

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Little Tikes is recalling a children’s toy that can pose a serious threat of choking if it comes apart. The toy is a fake cell phone, and the company has received three reports thus far of the phone breaking, and one report of a child begining to choke on one of the parts that came off.

Because the toy phone is modeled as a flip phone style, there is a hinge area where the phone unfolds into two portions. The two portions can at that site detach, and the hinge cover becomes a threat to the safety of the child.

The phone is designed to appeal to children, with bright colors and pictures of animals plus sound effects. the toy sold for $8 each or $20 for a set for nearly two years beginning in June of 2006.

If you believe you have one of these toys, stop letting your child play with it immediately. Contact Little Tikes or refer to the official press release to learn how you can get a replacement toy that is safer for your child to use.

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission is re-releasing a product recall for dangerous candleholders. The holders were first recalled in February of 2007. But it seems that the warnings did not reach all consumers. Since then, several more incidences of high flame and one instance of burn injury to a user have been reported.

The candle marked as dangerous is called the “Everlasting Jelly candle.” It is a clear gelatinous substance that comes in a glass container. Some are shaped like champagne glasses while others are round shapes with everything from sand, shells, and hearts to roses, butterflies and penguins.

These products, which “can have excessive flame height”  were sold nationwide in Spa at Home stores as well as online at Spaathome.com. Their retail price ranged from $9 to $50. If you suspect you own this product, stop using it immediately and visit the official recall or the Spa at Home website to learn more. You will be able to return the product so that no additional injuries occur.

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The State of Iowa will receive $1.3 million dollars from pharmaceutical giant Merck for false and risky marketing of the pain relief drug Vioxx. Though Vioxx has been off the market since 2004, Merck is only just now beginning to face the real consequences of their actions. The $1.3 million settlement is part of a larger $58 million nationwide settlement.
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Yet another grill has been recalled due to fire hazards, but this one was sold in just a few states, including Iowa. The Char-Broil Two-Burner Gas Grill (see model number below) has been recalled because the main burner does not properly fit its attachment to the gas valve. This could cause a propane leak that leads to fire damage and serious burns to consumers.

Four hundred of the grills were sold between February and April of this year. The product retailed for approximately $120. if you have a recalled grill, stop using it immediately and contact Char-Broil for more information on getting a free replacement burner. Those grills affected will bear the model number 463720108, and were sold in the following states:

• Iowa
• North Dakota
• Minnesota
• Wisconsin

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Disney has announced a particularly unsettling lead-paint recall: sleeping bags. The company is recalling more than 4,000 children’s sleeping bags decorated in a Pirates of the Caribbean theme. The sleeping bags were sold for approximately $25 in Disney stores all across the country between April and October of last year.

The fact that a children’s sleeping bag could be coated in lead paint is quite disconcerting. Details of the recall explain that the specific part of the product effected is the zipper pull along the side of the bag. While the cartoon pirates on the bag and other parts are reported to be safe, this small zipper has effectively ‘hijacked’ the safety of the entire product.

If you have this Disney Sleeping Bag, take it away from the child immediately and bring it to the Disney store for a full refund.

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As warmer weather ensues, the federal government is warning parents about a household hazard that you might not expect: windows. On average, 25 people die each year after falling out of windows, and 1/3 of those deaths are children under the age of five. This tragic scenario, however, can be easily avoided. There are some simple steps that parents can and should take to make sure your home is safe for the whole family.

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A new law concerning pool and spa safety has been approved, spearheaded by a mother who lost her 7-year-old daughter in 2002. Now she and several organizations have teamed up to require more safety measures for both pools and spas. But on the heels of the law’s approval comes an announcement that pool and spa drownings involving children under five are actually on the rise.

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