Back in the 1970’s, Ford made the Pinto with a gas tank mounted behind the axle, with a protrusion on the axle positioned to puncture the gas tank in a rear end collision. When that happens, a cloud of vaporized gasoline envelopes the vehicle, and any spark can ignite a fireball. After a number of…
Continue reading ›According to an article in the New York Times (free registration required) on 3/31/05, a study from the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen and documents from a recent lawsuit against the Ford Motor Company suggest that Ford ignored evidence that stronger roofs would lead to fewer injuries. Also on Wednesday, a plaintiffs’ lawyer in several…
Continue reading ›The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the following product recalls in recent days: – Portable cribs from Delta Enterprises — crib slats can separate from the headboard, posing an entrapment risk to young children. – Rear projection TV from JVC – fire risk. — Carpet from Shaw Industries — fire risk due to uneven…
Continue reading ›Throughout the United States, and in Georgia, manufacturers have a duty to provide adequate warnings and instructions with regard to foreseeable dangers in the use of manufactured products. Ken Shigley represents plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases statewide in Georgia, and in other states subject to the multijurisdictional practice and pro hac vice…
Continue reading ›In some rare cases, a wrongful death action in Georgia may be based upon unfair and deceptive acts and practices in violation of the Fair Business Practices Act (FBPA). That statute allows recovery of treble damages, punitive damages and attorney fees for intentional violations. This theory may be particularly applicable in products liability cases where…
Continue reading ›Enforcement of manufacturers” legal accountability to consumers helps make products safer and better for all of us. With the U.S. economy the strongest in the world, protection of consumers does not restrain innovation and legitimate corporate profits. Under Georgia law, a manufacturer may be liable for injury or death caused by a defective product under…
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