Defective Products | Geoff McDonald and Associates

Archive for the ‘ Defective Products ’ Category

Jan

Poorly Installed Generators Put Homeowners At Risk

January 11, 2012

A local Virginia company is in hot water due to generators that were improperly installed at area homes and businesses. According to WRIC 8 News, state and local authorities are now investigating the company because of the risk of electrocution and explosion the faulty installations pose.

It all started after one homeowner purchased the $7,000 generator following Hurricane Irene, but it wasn’t until recently that the problems were discovered. County inspectors found two pages worth of code violations surrounding the installation of the generator. Some of those issues include:

The unit was installed too close to a shed, causing a fire hazard.
The piping entering the home from the unit was too small.
The area where the piping enters the home was not properly sealed.

The Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection (CCDBI) stated that the company has failed to obtain proper permits to install the generators on at least five occasions. A spokesman for the department added that infractions like these put the generators’ users at great safety risks. The CCDBI has since taken action against the company by submitting a court injunction Friday that will require the business to temporarily shut down.

The Virginia defective product attorneys with Geoff McDonald and Associates often help the victims of defective product injuries receive the compensation they need to pay for their losses and medical bills. If you have been injured because of negligent design or installation of a product, call us today to discuss your case.

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Nov

High Arsenic Levels Discovered In Several Apple And Grape Juices

November 30, 2011

Under normal circumstances, we tend to believe that drinking fruit juice is supposed to be good for us. New data released by a Consumer Reports study shows that the opposite may be true. They say that some commercial fruit juices may contain levels of arsenic and lead that are above safe limits.

Researchers collected 88 samples from 28 apple and three grape juices available in most grocery stores. Of the samples taken, 10 percent of the samples contained total arsenic levels above the standard allowed for drinking water–10 parts per billion (ppb). Lead levels at or above the 5 ppb limit also were found in 25 percent of all juice samples.

Sampled Brands Include:

Apple & Eve (Apple)
Wal-Mart Great Value (Apple)
Mott’s (Apple)
Welch’s (Grape)
Walgreen’s (Grape)

Advocates for the Juice Product Association stated juice was safe for all consumers and that the industry, “Adheres to FDA guidelines.” However, there is no guideline set for toxins in fruit juice. In September, the FDA said it was considering setting one. Their report advises officials to set total arsenic limits in apple and grape juice at a maximum amount of 3 ppb. For lead, the recommendation is to at least meet the 5 ppb limit set for bottled water.

The Virginia Defective Product Attorneys with Geoff McDonald & Associates think commercial food manufacturers have a responsibility to supply consumers with safe food and beverages. Are current standards safe? Tell us what you think by posting to our Facebook page.

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Apr

Proposed bill could help homeowners with faulty material

April 8, 2010

According to an article from IFAwebnews.com, the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia favors the appointment of a state panel to address health and safety issues surrounding Chinese drywall after bills that have been stalled called the drywall flawed.

The article says Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade, answered a call by Virginia state legislators to create a task force of their peers and representatives of state government to “form a cohesive, coordinated state response to the federal government during their determination of potential federal action” to aid homeowners.

Does your Virginia home contain Chinese drywall, or have you ever used it? What previsions should be in place to ensure faulty materials aren’t used?

If you or someone you know has had a bad experience with defective products, the Virginia defective product lawyers at Geoff McDonald & Associates can help.

Buyers warned of Virginia defective products containing contaminated cheese

November 27, 2007

A gift basket has been voluntarily recalled by a company because the Virginia defective product could include cheese contaminated with dangerous bacteria, according to the Bristol Herald Courier.

The Virginia defective product that was sold in Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, and Alabama as well as Virginia, was the company’s Southern Cheddar Jack Volunteer Special Cheese. The defective product was sold in several sizes and may have been distributed across the country through the company’s Web site.

No Virginia defective product injuries have been reported. The defective product was sold between Sept. 19 and Nov. 18.

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Nov

Virginia defective products pose problems for holiday shopping season

November 9, 2007

With the recent slew of Virginia defective products and product recalls because of unsafe levels of lead in toys, parents are wondering how to safely do their holiday shopping, according to The Roanoke Times.

A local woman offered her lead-testing equipment to test the toys at a local school and found that more than 15 percent were Virginia defective products with unsafe levels of lead. Parents are encouraged to be cautious about cheap, painted toys and fake jewelry and to toss out toys with chipped paint or degraded plastic.

For more tips on how to avoid bringing Virginia defective products into your home this holiday season, read the rest of the report.

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Oct

Defective products recalled at Dollar Tree

October 26, 2007

The Virginian-Pilot reported that four brands of children’s jewelry sold at Dollar Tree Stores Inc. has been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission due to unsafe levels of lead.

These defective products were pulled from shelves after an independent test found high levels of lead in the jewelry. The retailer alerted the commission to the problems with the defective products.

The toys involved are children’s earrings, beaded necklaces, bracelets, and charms. People who find these toys at home should return them to Dollar Tree for a refund for their Virginia defective products.

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Oct

Campbell Soup Company voluntarily recalls defective products

October 9, 2007

The Bristol Herald-Courier reported a voluntary recall of more than 72,000 cans of a variety of Campbell Soup Company’s Chunky soup. The Virginia defective product recall includes 18.8-ounce cans of Campbell’s Chunky Baked Potato with Cheddar and Bacon Bits, which might contain pieces of hard plastic.

These pieces of plastic may cause defective product injuries, including a choking hazard and injury to the body if swallowed. Campbell says three people have reported minor defective product injuries in and around their mouths.

The defective products were shipped to 24 states, but no other products are affected by the recall.

Popularity: 35% [?]

Oct

Recalled toys could cause Virginia defective product injuries

The Daily Press reported that more products manufactured in China were recalled on Thursday for unsafe lead levels. These defective products include various bookmarks and journals from Antioch Publishing’s Signature Collection, some Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks, among several others.

Many of the recalled defective products are made for children and parents are strongly encouraged to check their homes for toys on the list to avoid Virginia defective product injuries. No injuries or incidents have been reported.

For more information and a list of the recalled products, check the link below.

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