Consumer Product Legal Issues

This living topic explores various legal disputes and safety concerns involving consumer products. It covers lawsuits related to environmental claims, false advertising, product safety, and misleading marketing practices. Examples include cases against Tyson Foods for misleading sustainability claims, Equifax for inaccurate credit scores, MetroPCS for deceptive international calling plans, and Merck over the drug Fosamax. It highlights the impact of these cases on consumers and companies, and provides updates on settlements and ongoing legal proceedings.

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Consumers warned not to use alcohol fire pits

Two deaths have been reported

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a critical consumer alert, urging consumers to stop purchasing or using fire pits designed to burn pooled alcohol or other liquid fuels.

These products, often marketed as tabletop fire pits, fire pots, miniature fireplaces, or portable indoor fires, pose significant safety risks and should be immediately discontinued and disposed of by consumers. Retailers are also advised to halt sales of these hazardous items.

In October,...

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2024
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New class action suit is targeting maker of Stanley cups

Stanley tumblers have taken the world by storm in recent months. The cups drew a lot of public attention and interest after becoming an internet phenomenon, and then quickly came under scrutiny for containing lead

Now, the manufacturer of the popular cups, Pacific Market International (PMI), is being sued by four California women in a class action suit for allegedly deceiving consumers about the presence of lead in the tumblers. 

“PMI had a duty to disclose its use of lead before enticing millions of customers to unwittingly buy its drinkware,” the suit states. “Instead of allowing customers to decide for themselves and their families whether to accept any risks associated with using a lead-contaminated drinking cup, PMI kept customers in the dark so as not to interfere with its bonanza of influencer-driven sales, especially to young women.” 

Is there lead in Stanley cups?

The short answer: yes. But it’s more complex than that. 

To keep drinks cold, Stanley tumblers use stainless steel. At the bottom of each cup, there is a small pellet that contains lead, which is the stainless steel vacuum seal insulation.

Should that seal come off, consumers would have direct exposure to the lead pellet while drinking from their Stanley cups. However, according to comments from the company, the likelihood of that happening is very slim. 

“Our manufacturing process currently employs the use of an industry standard pellet to seal the vacuum insulation at the base of our products; the sealing material includes some lead,” the company explains on its website. “Once sealed, this area is covered with a durable stainless steel layer, making it inaccessible to consumers.” 

The company also explained that all cups and tumblers are eligible for a lifetime warranty should any of the seals break. 

What are the details of the lawsuit? 

Though PMI has been forthcoming in its use of lead in the manufacturing process of its Stanley cups, the lawsuit alleges that this hadn’t come out until recently. Meanwhile, the cups had generated a great deal of internet buzz prior to that. 

“PMI has marketed its products to the public for years as a safe, practical item especially suitable for young women,” the suit states. “But PMI did not disclose its use of lead in manufacturing until January 2024. Rather, it advertises its cups as being ‘BPA-free’ and made of stainless steel, while omitting another key ingredient used in its vacuum seal: lead.” 

The suit also states that all four women bought the cups, containing lead, with no disclosures or warnings about the lead, and they wouldn’t have bought the cups – or spent as much as they did on a cup – had they known they contained lead. 

The plaintiffs are requesting that Stanley discloses the use of lead or any other toxins in its products, as well as several undisclosed damages. 

Stanley tumblers have taken the world by storm in recent months. The cups drew a lot of public attention and interest after becoming an internet phenomenon...

2023
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A check for $12 to $50 is yours if you use certain 'recycling bags'

If you use recycling bags – especially Hefty or Great Value (Walmart) brand recycling bags – you could qualify for as much as a $50 settlement payment.

As a result of a class action settlement, Reynolds Consumer Products, the bag manufacturer, agreed to pay $3 million to settle claims that it wrongfully marketed its trash bags as “recycling” bags despite their inability to actually be recycled at numerous solid waste disposal facilities.

Reynolds disputed the allegations and the court has not made any determination about who is right, but Reynolds apparently felt it was better to fork over the $3 million and be done with this once and for all.

Proof of purchase? $50! No proof? $12

The settlement benefits consumers who purchased Hefty and/or Great Value brand recycling bags between July 20, 2018, and Aug. 30, 2023.

Under the provisions of the settlement, anyone who filed to be a class member can receive $2 per purchased product. With proof of purchase, consumers can claim up to 25 products, for a $50 maximum payment. But get this -- even those without proof of purchase, win too. They can claim up to six products, for a maximum payment of $12.

A full list of the Hefty and Great Value brand Recycling bags included in the Settlement can be found here.

All that’s required to receive a settlement check is to file a request either online or via mail by no later than December 13, 2023. You can find those details here and answers to any questions about the lawsuit and claim process here.

If you use recycling bags – especially Hefty or Great Value (Walmart) brand recycling bags – you could qualify for as much as a $50 settlement payment....