Akron Personal Injury Lawyer - Miscellaneous

Nokia Recalls 46 Million Cellphone Batteries for Overheating

Courtney Mills — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:41:07 GMT

The Nokia Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of cellular phones, announced on Tuesday that lithium-ion batteries in nearly 46 million phones would need to be recalled after reports of 100 incidents of overheating. There have been no injuries to date.

Nokia specified that the company's faulty BL-5C battery, a product of the Matsushita Battery Industrial Company, was placed in nearly 46 million units between the years December 2005 through November 2006 in over 50 different Nokia models, from the less advanced Nokia 1100 to the highly advanced N70.

The Matsushita batteries reportedly were manufactured in a Chinese factory. A Matsushita spokesman asserted that it was not a design flaw that led to the recall, but a "flaw in the manufacturing process" that was at the root of the problem.

There have been several reports of these lithium-ion batteries overheating in these phones during recharging. This recall comes directly on the heels of a major recall of Sony notebook computer batteries by Toshiba.

For more information on this subject matter, please review our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

Recall on HoMedics Heating Pads

Jenny Albano — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:04:27 GMT

HoMedics Inc. and the FDA have announced that there is a voluntary recall of heating pads manufactured by the company. These products have been found to cause burns or fires.

Some of the heating pads contain an inadequate connector crimp, which can lead to a high resistance connection that may generate excessive heat.

This excess heat can inflict first degree burns on consumers, or can cause other items or the heating pad itself to catch fire. The FDA recommends that anyone who had the HoMedics heating pad should discontinue use of the product immediately.

Models numbers HP-100, HP-150, HP-200, HP-300, and HP-500, which all have a "01" on the hand control, are included in the recall. These models were available at Walgreens from 2001 and 2002.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano

Biomedical Tissue Services Scandal - Seven Charged in 179-Count Indictment

Staff Writer — Fri, 18 May 2007 21:22:18 GMT

In Rochester, New York, authorities unsealed a 179-count indictment against seven New York area funeral home employees (from Burger Funeral Home, Profetta Funeral Chapel, Serenity Hills Funeral Home) and Biomedical Tissue Services human tissue collection workers Thursday. The indictment contains many felony charges related to the theft of human bodies from graves and funeral homes, and the unlawful and unathorized harvesting of human bone and tissue from the deceased. Many family members were present in the courtroom when the indictment was delivered.

Following an FDA investigation in 2005, families who believed their loved ones were being cremated or buried by these funeral homes were shocked and disgusted to discover that the flesh and bones of their deceased relatives had been carved up and sold in the medical tissue marketplace like any other inanimate commodity. This week, criminal charges were finally filed against some of the people who are alleged to have committed these heinous acts.

In February of 2006, Dr. Michael Mastrimonio (president of Biomedical Tissue Services) and three other men were convicted of harvesting human tissue and selling and distributing it without consent. Among other concerns with the human tissue being harvest were the ages of the donor patients, the insufficient testing of tissue and bone which resulted in the implant of defective, diseased human tissue into recipient patients. Prison terms for convictions could range from ten to twenty years.

If you or your family has been affected by defective human bone or tissue or subsequent recalls and would like to contact an attorney free of charge, please use the form at right.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer