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Study Shows That Recalled Products Can Still be Purchased Online
August 27, 2007

Even though El Segundo, California based Mattel, Inc. has removed all of its dangerous recalled products from retailer's stores, that doesn't mean that parents should stop using caution when shopping for something for their children to play with. There are many other, less publicized recalled products, each of which may pose a serious health hazard. Also, because of the prevalence of online auction sites, recalling a product is no longer a guarantee it is off the market.

According to a recent study, many recalled products are still being sold on online auction sites, such as San Jose, California based eBay. Keri Brown Kirschman, the lead author of the study and assistant psychology professor at the University of Dayton, says she searched for the 141 recalled products on eBay for 30 days. She found them offered in at least 144 online auctions, seventy percent of which were successfully sold to unsuspecting customers. The study recommended that auction sites should have online sellers electronically sign a form that confirms their products have not been recalled. eBay currently has a policy against listing recalled products on its site, but with the sheer number of recalls announced by individual companies and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission every month, they have difficulty enforcing it.

Before you buy a product anywhere, particularly in an informal setting such as a garage sale or online auction, check the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website for recalls. Their site allows you to see the most recent product recalls, as well as search through all of the recalls throughout their history.

Whenever a company widely sells any product, especially products marketed towards children, they have an obligation to guarantee it is completely safe. If you or one your children has been seriously injured by a toy or other product due to a manufacturing defect, call one the experienced product liability attorneys at The Reeves Law Group. A personal injury claim against a negligent manufacturer not only might help injured victims receive fair compensation, it also puts pressure on all companies to tighten safety practices.

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More Toy Trouble for Mattel
August 15, 2007

Just when you thought all the toxic lead coated toys were off the shelves and you could breathe easy, comes a second recall from Mattel Inc. This time the company is puling out close to 9 million Chinese made toys that not just contain lead paint, but may also have small magnets that children may swallow. The toys include Polly Pocket play sets, Batman action figures and die cast cars that contain high levels of lead paint.

The Polly Pocket recall is an extension of an earlier recall in November last year when several injuries were reported after three children swallowed the little magnets and suffered severe injuries All three suffered intestinal perforation which necessitated extensive hospitalization and surgery.

In March 2006, another toy maker, Mega Brands recalled more than 4 million magnetic sets after one child died and four others were hospitalized after they swallowed the tiny magnets. According to medical experts, when more than one magnet is ingested, they stick together, causing perforations in the intestine. The resulting injuries can lead to infection and blockage, and can prove fatal.

Since 2003, a total of 19 children have required surgery after swallowing magnets used in toys.

Even as Mattel cautioned that more recalls could be on the way, and the government warned parents to check if their children were playing with the recalled toys, a South Florida woman named Farrah Shoukhry has filed a lawsuit against Mattel. No details are available at this point. But as Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Nancy Nord says, "There is no excuse for lead to be found in toys entering this country. It is completely unacceptable, and it has to stop."

If your child has been injured due to a defective toy, call the personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group for a consultation today.

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