Product recalls and defects
We are seeing an increase in property damage caused by water and fire as a direct result of a defective product. As a property adjuster, you are familiar with losses caused by defective products. Therefore, we are trying to work with you to bundle these files to increase the settlement value and decrease your operational costs associated with adjusting each claim.
Our product liability attorneys have experience litigating cases involving hundreds of different products, including industrial machinery, automobiles, and common residential and commercial appliances such as dehumidifiers, sump pumps, space heaters, fire compression systems, and more. Recently, we have litigated product liability matters involving residential and commercial appliances, gas explosions, cellulose insulation, and sprinkler, plumbing and other water losses.
Consumer Product Safety Commission product recalls
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released the following product recalls:
Per the CPSC, the lithium-ion battery backup can overheat, posing a fire hazard. This recall involves the Flo Smart Water Monitor Lithium-Ion Battery Back-Ups. The Flo Water Monitor Battery Backup device was an optional add-on accessory that could be purchased separately to extend certain features of Moen’s Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff in the event of a power disruption. Only the battery backup is being recalled. The dark gray rectangular battery has the FLO logo printed on the lower right-hand side. A sticker showing the status of the light on the battery is printed on the lower left-hand side as well as model number 920-001.
There have been three reports of backup batteries that have overheated and caught fire. No injuries have been reported, but minor property damage has been reported.
Per the CPSC, the lithium-ion battery packs in the self-balancing scooters/hoverboards can overheat, posing a fire hazard. This recall involves all 42-volt Jetson Rogue self-balancing scooters/hoverboards. The self-balancing scooters/hoverboards have two wheels with light-up hubcaps and come in the following colors: black, blue, red, pink, and purple with a black platform. Jetson is printed on one side of the body and on the top of the footpads. Affected units were manufactured from 2018 through 2019 and have a UL certification label and serial number on the bottom of the unit. Affected units do not have a barcode on the bottom of the unit. Units with a barcode next to the serial number are not included in this recall. The charge port on affected units has three pins and is located to the left of the power button. Units with a charge port that has just one pin and is located to the right of the power button are not included in this recall.
There have been multiple reports of the recalled scooters/hoverboards burning, sparking, or melting, several of which involved reports of flames. A 10-year-old girl and her 15-year-old sister died in a fire on April 1, 2022, in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. The Hellertown Borough Fire Marshal determined that a 42-volt Jetson Rogue was the point of origin of the fire.
Product recalls
Distinguishing a solid file for recovery can be complicated. When a defective product causes a loss, the manufacturer of the product, the wholesaler, and the distributor may be liable. To know under what circumstance these parties can be held liable is equally demanding. When files such as these arrive and you are wondering who is responsible for the damages the product caused, contact us. We will help you identify claims with subrogation potential, propose a plan to identify the responsible third party, and work toward recovery. Contact one of our product liability lawyers to schedule a consultation and allow Keis George to redefine what it means to recover your money faster.
