Consumer safety groups have been concerned about the lower labor costs associated with manufacturing products overseas which sometimes results in poor quality that puts consumer safety at risk from defective product injuries. Often these injuries occur to children—accidental injury is the leading cause of injury and death to children under age 14. Consumer groups are hoping that a new presidential administration might be persuaded to change these statistics. Massachusetts attorney Thomas M. Kiley concentrates on defective product liability cases in Boston.
A recent article published by Public Citizen, a consumer safety group, says the Consumer Products Safety Commission details huge numbers of recalls of products with violations of lead paint standards (all imported from offshore countries), or appliances that catch fire. The latest recall, according to the article, involves an expansion of an additional 131,000 of a previous recall of infant rattles that could cause a choking hazard. Since the original recall, there have been 10 additional reports of choking from the tail pieces from the Infant Lion and Lamb Grabby rattles, according to the website.
Public Citizen sent a letter to the Obama Transition Team upon President Obama’s inauguration deploring “the abusive practice of inserting language in the preambles of, or in federal regulations for the purpose of immunizing manufacturers from liability for injuries caused by faulty products.” Public Citizen is urging President Obama to require that manufacturers provide reliable and safe products for the consumer. They want to see changes to the current legislation that protects businesses giving them immunity from liability.
