New Class Action Lawsuit Alleges That Keyless Ignition is “Dangerous and Defective”
Posted: August 27, 2015 Filed under: Commercial Litigation, Product Liability | Tags: Class action, Keyless ignition Leave a comment
According to Edmunds.com, over seventy-two percent of the cars and trucks sold during 2014 came equipped with a push button ignition switch (either as a standard feature or an option). The keyless ignition system allows a driver to start and stop a car by pressing a button while an electronic key fob is in the vicinity of the vehicle.
Aside from freeing up space in an automobile and providing additional convenience, the keyless ignition systems are considered to have additional advantages over conventional ignition switch with a key. Recent recalls by General Motors and injury claims have demonstrated that keys can be jostled out of position (for example, due to the weight of other objects on the key chain or a driver inadvertently hitting the key while shifting), which may result in the engine shutting off. Presumably, a keyless ignition would alleviate any concerns about unintentionally turning off a car. Read the rest of this entry »
Table Saw Manufacturer’s Failure to Include Automatic Guard is Not a Design Defect Under New York Law
Posted: July 10, 2015 Filed under: Appeals, New York Practice, Product Liability | Tags: Alternative Design, Automatic Safety, Blade Guard, Interlock, Product Liability, Risk Utility Analysis, Table Saw Leave a commentOn July 8, 2015, New York’s Second Department held that a design defect claim cannot be based upon a table saw manufacturer’s failure to include an automatic guard.
In Chavez v. Delta International Machinery Corp., 2014-05235, 2015 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 5769 (N.Y. App. Div. [2d Dep’t] July 8, 2015), the trial court denied the branch of the defendant’s motion for summary that sought to dismiss all claims based upon allegations that a table saw was defective for not including an automatic safety device – an interlock device that would prevent the saw from operating unless the blade guard was properly in place. Read the rest of this entry »
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