Cleveland Wrongful Death Law Blog

More and more people here in Ohio and elsewhere are trying to live healthier lives. As part of that quest, they may attempt to lose weight, which may involve making sure that their metabolisms are working properly and in balance. A company that used to sell a product to help with that endeavor recently closed its doors after recalls that could result in numerous product liability claims.

Within a month, McDaniel Life-Line issued two recalls of its All Life Line Water after federal regulators discovered contamination in the company's product. The bacteria found, called pseudomonas aeruginosa, presents a serious danger to people with compromised immune systems. Not only could this bacteria cause potentially life-threatening blood infections, but other ingredients could burn skin badly enough to cause disfigurement.

What is AFFF or aqueous film forming foam? It is a synthetic fire suppressant foam created in the 1970s that contains toxic materials. If you work or worked as a member of the Armed Forces or as a fire fighter here in Ohio or elsewhere, you may have been exposed to AFFF and could experience significant health problems as a result.

AFFF is primarily used on petroleum-based fires because of its effectiveness. While this may be good for putting out a dangerous fire, it presents its own dangers to those exposed to it. Even if you live in an area where it was used and drank the water, you could suffer from exposure to the toxic chemicals that make up the foam. 

State and federal government agencies are tasked with continuously monitoring environmental factors across all industries. Over the years, this has resulted in the prohibition of most uses of certain chemicals and substances such as asbestos in order to protect human life, the environment and ecosystems. For this reason, Ohio residents may believe, just as most everyone around the country does, that harm from those substances goes away. However, sources want everyone to know that issues such as asbestos litigation will not be going away anytime soon.

Ohio residents only have to look at the recent litigation involving the use of asbestos in talcum powder to know this is true. Even so, this is not the only source of the toxic material that remains in use across the country. Whether it remains from materials produced or constructed prior to new regulations or results from a still allowable use, the material can still be found and cause significant harm to anyone who comes into contact with airborne dust or fibers.

Ohio adults assume a certain amount of risk voluntarily when they get into their vehicles, but children often have no choice. Their parents, guardians or those watching them for the day assume the risk on behalf of the children in their charge. The problem is that car accidents do not discriminate. Even the youngest passengers can suffer serious injuries or lose their lives due to circumstances out of their control.

In a crash that took place on a recent Monday night, a mother put her 14-month-old child into a vehicle and set off for their destination. By approximately 9:30 p.m. that night, they both lost their lives on Ohio 134 South. According to the preliminary report from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a 16-year-old driver attempted to pass a second vehicle driven by a 63-year-old man.