March 22, 2023

Calico Critters Animal Figures Recalled Due To Choking Hazard

Every year, dangerous baby products are recalled for a variety of reasons: choking hazards, toxic substances, suffocation risks, and more. In fact, the average year sees over 100 children’s product recalls, according to the nonprofit organization Kids in Danger (KID). Just this month, more than 3.2 million Calico Critters figures were recalled after two children’s deaths involving pacifier accessories that came with the toys.

Calico Critters Recall

On March 9, Epoch Everlasting Play recalled all of their Calico Critters animal figures and sets sold with small bottle and pacifier accessories, which can pose choking hazards. The recall came after reports of three incidents involving the pacifiers, including two deaths — a 2-year-old child in New Mexico and a 9-month-old infant in Japan.

March 9, 2023

Werner Ladder Accident Injuries

by Altman & Altman

Every year in the United States, over 100 people die and thousands more suffer injuries in ladder-related falls. While some accidents result from improper usage, others happen when the ladders themselves are defective. Even when you buy well-known brands at major retailers, products can sometimes have design flaws or manufacturing defects.

In 2018, U.S. company Werner Co. recalled about 78,000 aluminum telescoping ladders after receiving a report that the ladders can break while in use, posing fall and injury hazards. The recall affected five models of ladders sold at Home Depot and Lowe’s stores nationwide in April and May of that year.

If you have a recalled Werner ladder as posted on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, immediately stop using it and return it to the store of purchase for a refund. If you were hurt while using a recalled Werner model or any brand of defective ladder, a personal injury attorney can help evaluate whether you qualify for financial compensation for your injuries.

February 17, 2023

Two Rocking Sleeper Recalls Announced After More Infant Deaths

by Altman & Altman

Companies are reminding consumers not to use two recalled models of baby rocker sleepers, after more infants have died since the recalls were issued in 2019. Both announcements also include a warning that it is illegal to sell or distribute the recalled sleepers, many of which may still be in circulation.

Fisher-Price announced the recall of 4.7 million Rock ‘n Play Sleepers after at least eight additional deaths were reported, bringing the total to approximately 100 infants who have died while using the product. Kids2 announced the recall of nearly 700,000 Rocking Sleepers after at least four more babies died, bringing the total number of fatalities to 15.

Dangerous Infant Sleep Products

February 10, 2023

Exactech Joint Replacement Recall Lawsuits

by Altman & Altman

A problem with Exactech joint replacements that led to one recall in 2021 and an expanded recall in 2022 is now at the heart of a growing number of lawsuits from patients across the U.S. Exactech has recalled about 200,000 knee, hip, and ankle replacements since August 2021 due to an issue with the polyethylene components that can cause them to degrade prematurely.

Surgeons have already implanted over 147,000 of these potentially defective joint replacements, meaning thousands of Americans could be at risk of injuries and medical complications. Plaintiffs filing Exactech lawsuits complain that the implants fail early, leading to a variety of health symptoms and sometimes requiring revision surgery.

Exactech Joint Replacement Recall Details

December 6, 2022

Parents Sue Stanford University for Wrongful Death After Daughter’s Suicide

by Altman & Altman

The parents of a former Stanford student have sued the university following their daughter’s suicide, according to multiple news sources that have reviewed the complaint. A senior and goalkeeper for the school’s soccer team, Katie Meyer ended her life in her dorm room on February 28. At the time of her death, the 22-year-old faced disciplinary action from Stanford that put her degree on hold and threatened to remove her from the university.

Meyer Charged Over Coffee Incident

The disciplinary charges stemmed from an incident where Meyer allegedly spilled coffee on a Stanford football player accused of sexually assaulting a female soccer player. It is unclear whether the spill was accidental or whether Meyer was defending her soccer teammate.

November 17, 2022

Brain Injuries Caused by Auto Accidents and Accidental Falls in Massachusetts

by Altman & Altman

Massachusetts residents had higher rates of traumatic brain injury-related emergency department (ED) visits than residents of any other state studied, according to a 2021 report in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. Over 998 per 100,000 MA residents went to an emergency room for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a single year, topping the list of the 25 states reporting that data. While the Commonwealth fared better on TBI-related deaths and hospitalizations, one thing is clear: brain injuries affect a substantial number of Massachusetts residents every year.

TBIs occur when a bump, blow, jolt, or penetration to the head disrupts normal brain function. Although many TBIs result in mild concussions, serious brain injury is a major cause of death and disability. In fact, a 2018 special report by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) indicated that TBIs contributed to 68,260 emergency room visits, 5,062 hospitalizations, and 820 deaths of MA residents in one year.

Causes of Brain Injuries in Massachusetts

October 31, 2022

Can Paraquat Exposure Cause Brain Damage, Dementia and potentially Parkinson’s Disease?

by Altman & Altman

One of the most widely used weed killers in the world, paraquat has recently drawn criticism for its potential link to Parkinson’s disease (PD). Lawsuits by thousands of farmers, agricultural workers, and others exposed to paraquat claim it caused them to develop the incurable brain disorder. PD symptoms can include shaking, fatigue, difficulty walking and talking, memory problems, and even dementia.

Paraquat manufacturer Syngenta (along with its corporate predecessors) has long defended the chemical’s safety. An October 2022 Guardian report, however, revealed that the company appears to have known about paraquat’s potential neurological dangers for decades. In addition, when internal research showed negative effects of paraquat on brain tissue, Syngenta apparently withheld that information from regulators while downplaying similar findings by independent scientists.

What is Paraquat?

October 18, 2022

Can I Sue My Landlord for a Slip and Fall Accident?

by Altman & Altman

Accidental falls send more Massachusetts residents to the ER than any other reason. If you suffer an injury due to a fall on the job, workers’ compensation insurance may cover your medical bills and missed days at work. But what if you slip and fall at your place of residence? In some circumstances, you can legally seek financial compensation from your landlord.

What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents at Rental Properties?

According to the National Floor Safety Institute, hazardous floors are the leading cause of accidental falls. A wide variety of floor-related and other hazards at rental properties can potentially cause you to trip or slip and fall, including the following:

October 13, 2022

Studies Link Roundup Weed Killer to Cancer and Neurological Diseases

by Altman & Altman

If you’ve ever used a commercial weed killer on your yard or farm, you have likely used Roundup®. In fact, glyphosate — the active chemical in Roundup — is the most widely used herbicide in the United States. In the past decade, however, concerns about its health effects have caused over 125,000 people to file lawsuits claiming Roundup causes cancer.

And now, new research suggests that the controversial product may also increase the risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Roundup owner Bayer announced that it will stop selling glyphosate-based herbicides for residential use in the U.S. beginning in 2023. But that does little to help the tens of thousands of people who believe they were harmed by the product.

Does Roundup Cause Cancer?

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” According to NPR, the scientists based their conclusion on the following three types of studies:

“Strong evidence” that glyphosate can damage cellular DNA, which is the first step in causing cancer.
Studies showing that when mice consume glyphosate, they get more tumors.
“Limited evidence” that people exposed to glyphosate have higher rates of a kind of cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

While non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the form of cancer most commonly associated with Roundup, a 2022 University of California study found a link between thyroid cancer and 10 pesticides, including glyphosate.

Does Roundup Cause Neurological Diseases?

Several studies in the past few years have raised concerns about the long-term health risks of Roundup, especially regarding diseases of the brain:

In 2020, a study in Japan concluded that glyphosate may be a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease.
In 2022, a Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University study showed that glyphosate and Roundup increased seizure-like behavior in roundworms, concluding that the chemical has “concerning” effects on the nervous system.
In 2022, researchers from Arizona State University showed that glyphosate infiltrates the brain, suggesting a possible link to conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body disease, and Huntington’s disease.

Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a decision in 2020 that did not identify any human health risks of concern from glyphosate exposure, it withdrew this decision in 2022 pending further review. Continue reading

September 23, 2022

MBTA Safety Incidents Prompt Federal Investigation

by Altman & Altman

After a series of train derailments, fires, injury collisions, and fatal accidents, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has come under fire for what federal regulators called its “lax safety culture.” A “pattern of safety incidents” prompted the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to conduct a months-long investigation into Boston’s rail transportation system. The review revealed overworked employees, issues with staffing, a lack of safety protocols, and a long backlog of maintenance cases. On August 31, the FTA ordered the MBTA to address 53 problem areas.

Recent MBTA Accidents

In the past year alone, multiple accidents on and around the T have resulted in injuries and deaths. The transit system has decayed over the course of decades, according to a report by WBUR highlighting the following high-profile MBTA accidents: