Archive for May 24th, 2009
COURT FINDS TOBACCO COMPANIES LIED ABOUT SMOKING DANGERS
Rules that defendants violated racketeering laws
The U.S. Court of Appeals has sided with a lower court, finding that cigarette companies set out to deliberately deceive consumers about the dangers of smoking. The court found the defendants, including Altria, violated federal racketeering laws.
The 92-page opinion sided completely with the lower court regarding the tobacco companies, but removed two trade groups as defendants.
The suit stemmed from cigarette ads for “low tar” and “light” cigarettes. The plaintiffs charged those descriptions gave smokers the false impression that these products were safer than regular cigarettes.
In August 2006 U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler ruled against the tobacco companies, saying “low tar” and “light” were off limits for ads or branding.
Tens of millions of “light” cigarette smokers were granted class action status in 2006, in a suit seeking billions of dollars in damage from tobacco companies.
FOR COMPLETE STORY, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
~Sandy G.
May 24, 2009
NEW ROGUES
From ConsumerAffairs.com
Every day we add hundreds of new consumer complaints and comments to our site. And each day sees the addition of companies and products that haven’t previously appeared in our Rogues Gallery. Here are today’s newcomers:
We want to hear from you. If you’ve had a problem — or a pleasant experience — with a company, product or service, please let us know, using our secure complaint form.
~Sandy G.
May 24, 2009
ANOTHER CHINESE DRYWALL SUIT FILED
Senate ponders what to do next
By Jon Hood, ConsumerAffairs.com
Another class action has been filed in the ongoing Chinese drywall saga, this one on behalf of three North Carolina homeowners who complained of illness and damage to their homes as a result of the wallboard.
Around 550 millions pounds of Chinese drywall was imported into the United States during the period between 2004 and 2006. This was in part due to a domestic shortage because of the housing boom, but construction in the wake of Hurricane Katrina also played a significant role.
The most commonly-cited culprit is Chinese manufacturer Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co., Ltd. (KPT), although other companies may also have imported defective drywall.
A number of other suits have already been filed in Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and North Carolina. All in all, consumers in at least 16 states are affected. Florida and Louisiana appear to be the hardest-hit.
FOR COMPLETE STORY, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
~Sandy G.
1 comment May 24, 2009
GE MICROWAVES PRONE TO SPONTANEOUS FIRE, SUIT CLAIMS
By Jon Hood, ConsumerAffairs.com
A class action lawsuit filed in federal court in Michigan claims that certain models of GE microwave ovens are prone to burst into flames without warning.
The suit alleges that the defect lies in the control panel and magnetron, which generates the actual “micro waves” within the oven. The suit claims that GE “should have known these microwave ovens were defective since at least 2003.” Although the suit doesn’t give the exact model numbers of affected microwaves, 20 models in the “Spacemaker” or “Over-the-Range” lines are implicated.
At least three fires – one in Michigan and two in Ohio – have been reported as a result of the faulty microwaves. One of the Ohio incidents showed how unpredictable these fires can be. Ann Mau’s microwave wasn’t even turned on, yet it burst into flames and sent smoke billowing into the hallway. Mau was lucky she was home; as she told a local television affiliate, “The firefighter told us five more minutes [and] we would have lost our whole first floor.”
FOR COMPLETE STORY, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
~Sandy G.
May 24, 2009
RECALLS
Cumberland Outfitters Girls’ Hooded Sweaters
FOR COMPLETE STORY, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Gothic Cabinet Craft Recalls Bunk Beds
FOR COMPLETE STORY, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Samsung Recalls Jitterbug Cell Phones
FOR COMPLETE STORY, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
~Sandy G.
May 24, 2009
