Chicago issues citations to 7 of 10 electric scooter companies
July 23, 2019, NBC Chicago
Citations have been issued to seven of 10 electric scooter companies participating in Chicago’s e-scooter pilot program for not following the rules, the city revealed. Violations covered in the 14 citations (see below for full list) included operating outside the pilot zone, failure to limit scooters to 15 mph and failure to require post-ride pictures, among others.
Consumers kept in the dark about potential product safety concerns
July 21, 2019, Fox KC
Products in homes across the country may put you at risk every day. But FOX consumer reporter Steve Noviello says – the Consumer Product Safety Commission is prohibited from telling you about them. The folks at Consumer Reports are ready to cut the red tape after the deaths of 32 infants tied to the now recalled Fisher-Price Rock and Play Sleepers. The CPSC confirms it was aware of deaths tied to that product as early as 2009, some 10 years before it was pulled from store shelves.
Manufacturers Beware: DOE battery charger regulations can cost
July 25, 2019, Retail Consumer Products Law
Manufacturers of battery chargers or external power supplies (EPSs), or sellers of consumer products that include battery chargers or EPSs, are likely subject to strict energy conservation standards. By virtue of Department of Energy (DOE) regulations that took effect in February 2016 and June 2018 for EPSs and battery chargers, respectively, manufacturers and importers of these charging devices must now meet stringent conservation standards under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) or risk the assessment of civil penalties.
How to protect your baby from unsafe products
July 24, 2019, Health Day News
In an average year, close to 70,000 children under age 5 go to the emergency department because of injuries from common nursery items, according to the journal Pediatrics. About 90% of these injuries happen at home, so prevention starts there. One reason young children are more prone to injury is that they have disproportionately large heads, which raises their center of gravity. They tend to lead with their head when they fall and are unable to break their fall with their arms because of lack of coordination and strength.
Is one American company cheating when it comes to tariffs on Chinese goods
July 24, 2019, Fox Memphis
Products marked as made in one country could actually be “Made in China.” Is one American company cheating when it comes to tariffs on Chinese goods? The products found right here in the Mid-South are surge protectors and FOX13 Investigates helped initiate a nationwide investigation.
The electric scooter boom raises new road safety questions
July 24, 2019, AXIOS
Electric scooters have already landed dozens of riders in the hospital in less than two years since they appeared on city streets—but are they more dangerous than other modes of transportation like bicycles? The bottom line: The answer is both yes and no, according to experts. While their characteristics differ, scooters and bikes share the same huge challenge — operating in an environment that’s not built for them. Scooters are inherently different from bikes in both form and usage, making them more prone to accidents in some ways.
Third Circuit Holds Online Retailers May Be Liable for Defective Third-Party Products Under Pennsylvania Product Liability Laws
July 24, 2019, JD Supra
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has held that online retailers such as Amazon could be held liable for allegedly defective third-party products sold through its website.
In a 2−1 panel decision in Oberdorf v. Amazon.com, Inc., — F.3d —, 2019 WL 2849153 (3d Cir. July 3, 2019), the Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s ruling that Amazon was not a “seller” under § 402A of the Restatement Second of Torts, and therefore could be held strictly liable under Pennsylvania products liability law.
Concerns about the safety of indoor play structures
July 24, 2019, FOX25
In the heat of summer, an indoor play center may seem like the perfect way to keep your cool while keeping your kids active. A growing number of indoor play facilities are opening up around the metro. But when it comes to safety, some owners say they’re not equal. Up to a thousand kids a week take over 2,100 square feet of play space inside Breakaway Indoor Playground. It’s no wonder the owners say they’re constantly inspecting and maintaining the equipment.
Counterfeit Concerns: Toy Association’s Rebecca Mond testifies before Congress
July 23, 2019, The Toy Association
The Toy Association’s Rebecca Mond, vice president of federal government affairs, was invited by Congress to testify last week on the toy industry’s concerns regarding the prevalence of counterfeit toys sold on e-commerce platforms. Speaking July 18 in front of the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, Mond highlighted the risk of infringing products, many of which do not meet the same safety standards as legitimate toys sold through legitimate channels and pose a significant health and safety risk to America’s most vulnerable consumers – kids.
VW Ordered to re-hire engineer fired in diesel emission scandal
July 25, 2019, Bloomberg Law
Volkswagen AG was ordered to re-hire an engineer fired amid the carmaker’s diesel scandal and told it cannot make her pay for some of the massive costs it incurred from the crisis.
The 52-year-old manager won her job back even though she worked on the controversial software used to cheat emission tests and later took part in destroying evidence, the Braunschweig labor court said in an emailed statement.
