The Subrogation Strategist

In subrogation cases where the insured’s damages were caused by a defective product, the fact that the product at issue is or was subject to a recall announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) may help to establish that the product was defective when it left the manufacturer’s possession and control. On February 21-22, 2024, the CPSC announced the following recalls related to products that present fire hazards:

1. EVAS 20 lb. Propane Exchange Tanks Recalled by Worthington Enterprises Due to Fire Hazard. According to the CPSC’s website, “[t]he recalled propane exchange cylinders could leak gas, posing a fire hazard.”
2. JURLEA Rugs Recalled Due to Fire Hazard; Violation of Federal Flammability Regulations; Sold Exclusively on Amazon.com by Yalande-US. According to the CPSC’s website, “[t]he rugs violate the federal flammability regulations for carpets and rugs, posing a fire hazard.”
3. Dynabook Americas Recalls 15.5 Million Toshiba Laptop AC Adapters Due to Burn and Fire Hazards. According to the CPSC’s website, “[t]he laptop AC adapters can overheat and spark, posing burn and fire hazards.”