Author Archive

Ryobi Recall: Fan Blade Pieces Can Break Off

March 15th, 2017. By LucyC

A jet fan blower that bites? You betcha! Ryobi is recalling its defective electric jet fan blowers—not really sure what these are—but I’m guessing it might have something to do with gardening.

The recall has been prompted by a rather high number of reported injuries. Apparently, the blower is prone to breaking in a rather bad tempered sort of way, having already caused 10,681 “incidents”, including 25 reports of minor injuries, such as lacerations to the face, hands and legs. These injuries are caused by fan blade pieces being discharged from either end of the blower. Got that?—EITHER end.

The deal is, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the plastic fan inside the blower can break “causing the fan blades to be discharged from either end of the blower tube, posing a laceration hazard.” Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Defective Product, Recall, Ryobi
Posted in Defective Products, Recall | 5 Comments »

Hunger Pang Lawsuit: Moose Munch Lacking a Bunch?

February 14th, 2017. By LucyC

How much air is too much air? Who knows. BUT—we may be about to find out. No, not talking about this blog. Harry & David LLC gourmet foods got slapped with a consumer fraud class action lawsuit over slack fill in their popcorn canisters. There is some small irony here. What is popcorn if not flavored air? Surely that’s why it’s the diet food of choice for so many.

Back to the lawsuit. Filed by New Yorker Bria Brown, the lawsuit claims that an excessive amount of the 10 ounce package of (take a breath) Harry & David Moose Munch Milk Chocolate-flavored Gourmet Popcorn (got all that?) contained empty space—not including the popcorn.

Brown claims that she didn’t receive $7.99 worth of popcorn—expecting—reasonably, I would suggest—that the box would be almost full, if not completely full. Hey, if you’re on a diet, every ounce counts… Not saying Brown was on a diet. But if you’ve just shelled out eight bucks for some flavored popcorn—and you’re hungry—I doubt you’re going to be too pleased to find out you’ve got less food than you expected. Although I’m not sure popcorn is actually considered food. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Class Action Lawsuit, Consumer Fraud
Posted in Class Action, Consumer Fraud | 1 Comment »

5-Hour Energy Lawsuit: Defense Spins a Good One!

January 25th, 2017. By LucyC

5-Hour Energy? Maybe, maybe not. The energy drink maker is the subject of multidistrict litigation (MDL) alleging consumer fraud, who would have thought? I know, I know. The gripe is that the energy boost ain’t all it’s cracked up to be, and that consumers swallowed the advertising in good faith (sorry, couldn’t resist).

The consolidated complaint was filed in January 2014. It claims that 5-Hour Energy states the drink gives long-lasting energy that “doesn’t jack you up with sugar, caffeine and herbal supplements.” The claim goes on, “defendants admit that the product provides no caloric energy at all.” So where does the energy come from then?

Read on…

Lawyers for the defendant and the plaintiffs recently sat down with the presiding judge to try and work this thing out. Lawyers for 5-Hour claim that it would be impossible for consumers to be deceived about the effects of the product they have purchased hundreds of times. The argument apparently followed the lines of 5-Hour Energy being an “experiential product”. Translation: you have an “experience” drinking 5-Hour Energy that may or may not be like the experience it claims you’re going to have. The consumer knows what that feeling is regardless and continues to buy the product, so they cannot reasonably claim they are being deceived or have made an uninformed choice. Have I got that right? Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Class Action, Consumer Fraud | 4 Comments »

No Joke: King Arthur ‘Reincarnated’ Files Parking Fee Lawsuit

January 10th, 2017. By LucyC

Pay to Pray? Not on your life! Love this. King Arthur Pendragon—the legendary King of England and Excalibur Knight—has come back to defend rights of people to pray without having to worry about their parking. It’s the little things, right?

It seems the English court has granted Pendragon the right to sue Britain’s national historical society over a £15 parking fee.

Just so we’re all clear, Pendragon was born in the century that only recently passed as John Timothy Rothwell but later changed his name to Excalibur. According to Wikipedia, in 1991, he was named Pendragon and Swordbearer to the Glastonbury Order of Druids. It turns out that the self-proclaimed reincarnation of King Arthur is a bit of a crusader (sorry, couldn’t resist) and no stranger to the English courts. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Discrimination
Posted in Crazy Sh*t Lawyers See, Discrimination | No Comments »

Two Recalls: Portable A/C Unit and Qbit Baby Stroller

December 20th, 2016. By LucyC

Two important recall notices to share this week…

LG Air Conditioner. This one goes out to all you lucky people who live somewhere on the continent where it doesn’t snow—or maybe such a place doesn’t exist anymore.

In any event, nearly half a million LG portable air conditioners are being recalled – just in time for Christmas – of course! Why, you ask? Funny thing, they can catch fire and cause property damage, burn down your house, maybe your neighbor’s, if the fire department doesn’t arrive in time, and possibly worse. You get the picture.

I would say that’s a defect in the design, particularly given the idea is to cool down the surrounding environment – not cause a fire that could be seen from space.

Apparently, LG has received four reports of fires that have caused a whopping $380,000 in property damage. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Recall | No Comments »