Consumer products are everywhere you look in New York, and although these items fill your day, you may not stop to consider whether using them represents a particular hazard to you. While many of these provide warnings stating that you should not allow children below certain ages to interact with a product, they rarely list the dangers the items may present to older adults. At the Law Office of Richard M. Kenny, we are aware of hundreds of[...]

In February 2016, the Consumer Product Safety Commission took the unprecedented step of sending a letter to all hoverboard manufacturers, importers and retailers. This letter told them that all hoverboards are potentially unsafe.  One major manufacturer, Swagway, has also told people who own its hoverboards to quit using them until they are deemed safe. This is a shocking turn of events.  Two months ago, hoverboards were among the most popular Christmas gifts, and now the entire industry is[...]

Just a few weeks ago, a Texas jury ordered Audi to pay a $124.5 million settlement to an 11-year-old boy. After a 2012 rear-end collision, the boy-who was in a 2005 Audi A4-was left brain damaged, partially paralyzed and blinded in his right eye. The settlement was reached after the jury determined that Audi equipped their vehicle with a seat back that was too weak to withstand a rear-end crash. The plaintiff's argument was that despite the fact[...]

Some families in New York beat the summer heat by spending time on boats in New York Harbor and other neighboring bodies of water. Just as with land vehicles, there are laws and guidelines governing boat safety. This extends to the companies that manufacture the vessels, as well, since a simple malfunction has the potential to cause a boating death. Official reports indicate that a recent boating accident began with a failed bilge pump. Boating traffic, weather conditions[...]

December is National Safe Toys and Gifts month, and it makes sense because it is the time of year where children are receiving gifts for the holidays. Recently, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has created a thorough toy safety protocol, by requiring testing by independent, third party testing companies and labs around the world; enforcing strict lead limits for toys and games; incorporating some of the most thorough toy standards in the world; and prohibiting violent[...]

The Holidays are a time of giving gifts to our loved ones. Children often receive toys to play with, but parents must be very careful as some toys may not be well designed or not intended for children under a certain age due to hazardous parts or accessories. Each year, the World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (WATCH), a toy advocacy safety group, releases a list of the top 10 most dangerous childrens' toys so parents and gift[...]