James O. Cunningham 
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Camp Lejeune LawsuitsProduct Liability | Orlando Accident & Injury Blog - Part 8
FDA Reports Surge in Drug Recalls in Recent Years
According to data recently made public by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recalls of pharmaceutical drugs have surged in recent years, with 2014 shaping up to be the biggest recall year on record.
A Timeline of the Steps that Led to the GM Recalls
Orlando personal injury lawyers have been closely monitoring developments in the events that led to General Motors’ worldwide recall of 2.6 million vehicles for ignition problems that have caused some GM vehicle to stall without warning. The sudden loss of power has led to many accidents that have claimed at least 13 lives over the last ten to twelve years. Numerous publications recently published a timeline of the events that led to the massive recall.
Recalls from Defective Air Bags now Top Two Million Vehicles
Many Orlando personal injury attorneys have been following developments in recent automotive recalls very closely. It’s not uncommon that one auto manufacturer or another recalls a model or several models due to defective parts. However, what makes the most recent rounds of recalls most troubling is that:
- It affects malfunctioning air bags that may or may not deploy during an accident and;
- The problems now involve several different automakers.
After Years of Denial, GM admits Potentially Fatal Flaw
After repeated denials that there were any problems with the ignition switches in their Chevrolet Cobalt models, General Motors has finally recalled the Chevy Cobalt, and five other models made between 2003 and 2007. Recent news reports have revealed what many Cobalt owners have been telling GM for years. A defect in the ignition switches in some Cobalt models causes the engine to shut off suddenly, preventing drivers from steering, braking and otherwise controlling their vehicle and preventing airbags from deploying in a collision. The defect has led to many accidents that have killed at least 26 people and injured dozens more. Growing evidence of the problem and several investigative reports into the fatal accidents prompted GM to finally recall 1.6 million Chevrolet Cobalt models and other small cars.
$2.5 Billion Johnson & Johnson DePuy Hip Implant Settlement
In what may be a landmark settlement, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay up to $2.5 billion in damages in order to resolve over 8,000 lawsuits filed over its recalled DePuy hip implant devices. This would make it the largest medical device settlement in history. In 2010, the company recalled over 93,000 hip replacement devices when it was determined that they were defective.
CPSC Orders Recall of Surge Protectors Due to Fire Hazard
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has ordered Schneider Electric to recall APC 7 and 8 series SurgeArrest surge protectors manufactured before 2003 due to a potential fire hazard. CPSC officials say that these surge protectors are prone to overheating and melting and have caused smoke and fire damage to homes and businesses throughout the U.S. Anyone owning an APC 7 and 8 series SurgeArrest surge protector is advised to disconnect the device immediately. The recall affects around 15 million units, which have the model and serial numbers on a label on the bottom of the device. The two numbers that follow the first letter or letters in the serial number sequence indicate the year the device was manufactured. A protector is affected by the recall if the numbers following the letters are 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01 or 02. Anyone owning an APC surge protector should also look for the words Personal, Professional, Performance or Network.
GM Recalls some Cruze Models for Brake Problems
General Motors recently announced that they are recalling nearly 300,000 Chevrolet Cruze automobiles to fix a potential problem with the brakes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that GM is voluntarily issuing the recall for 292,879 Cruze cars from the 2011 and 2012 model years. The recalled cars are equipped with turbocharged 1.4-liter gasoline motors, six-speed automatic transmissions and an electric vacuum pump, which provides supplemental vacuum for brake assist, when needed.
Ice Cream Recall Affects Products Sold in Orlando Area Grocery Stores
Orlando personal injury lawyers would like to alert readers to a recall affecting ice cream sold in nine states, including Florida and several stores in the Orlando area. The recall affects a batch of IGA Brand Vanilla & Chocolate Ice Cream manufactured by Dairy Fresh in 1.75-quart cartons that may contain allergens. The recalled cartons are printed with plant code "3783" and a Sell By date of 08-13-13 and may incorrectly contain Heavenly Hash ice cream, which contains almonds, coconut and soy, which are all potentially harmful to people with allergies to these foods.
Chrysler Announces Huge Jeep Recall over Transmission Problems
Chrysler recently announced a massive recall involving 469,000 Jeep vehicles worldwide for transmission problems. The recall affects around 295,000 Jeeps sold in the U.S. for problems involving transmissions that can shift from park into neutral. The recall was announced on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website, which reported that Chrysler is moving swiftly on fixing the issue. The recall affects Jeep Commanders for the 2006 to 2010 model years and Grand Cherokees from the 2005 to 2010 model years.
Air Bag Recall Affects 3.3 Million Japanese Vehicles
Japanese automakers Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Mazda recently announced a massive worldwide recall of 3.3 million vehicles due to problems with passenger-side air bags. In some models, air bags on the passenger side of the cabin can deploy with too much force, spraying shards of metal throughout the cabin. The automakers recently announced the recall during a press conference in Tokyo, reporting that it affects around 1.7 million Toyotas, 1.1 million Hondas, 480,000 Nissans and 20,000 Mazdas sold around the world. Approximately 1.4 million models affected by the recall were sold in the U.S.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.