Greater Goods LLC has recalled approximately 349,500 digital kitchen scales due to serious safety concerns related to their lithium coin batteries. The scales, sold online through Amazon, Walmart, and Greater Goods from May 2023 to September 2024, violate Reese’s Law, a federal regulation designed to protect consumers from the dangers of button cell and coin batteries. The primary issue with these scales is that their lithium CR3032 coin battery can be easily accessed by children, and the spare battery included in the packaging is not child-resistant, making ingestion a serious risk.
Reese’s Law mandates that consumer products containing small lithium batteries must have child-resistant battery compartments and packaging to prevent accidental ingestion. Lithium coin batteries, when swallowed, can cause devastating injuries, including internal burns, perforation of internal organs, and even death. Greater Goods has also failed to include the required warning labels on the product, further compounding the safety hazard. While no injuries have been reported yet, the risk is significant enough that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued an urgent recall.
The Dangers of Defective Battery Compartments
Products that contain lithium coin batteries must be designed with safety mechanisms to prevent children from accessing them. The Greater Goods digital kitchen scales do not meet this standard, leaving consumers—especially families with young children—at risk. When a button battery is swallowed, it can become lodged in the esophagus or digestive tract, where it reacts with bodily fluids to create a corrosive chemical reaction. This can lead to severe internal burns, tissue damage, and, in extreme cases, death.
Children under the age of six are most at risk for accidental ingestion, as they often explore their surroundings by putting objects in their mouths. Even if parents are vigilant, a product with an unsecured battery compartment can pose a serious threat. In many cases, symptoms of battery ingestion may not be immediately obvious, which can delay critical medical intervention. Common symptoms include difficulty swallowing, drooling, chest pain, vomiting, and respiratory distress.
By failing to include child-resistant packaging and a secure battery compartment, Greater Goods has placed consumers at unnecessary risk. While the company is offering a free repair kit, including a replacement battery door, new labeling, and an updated instruction manual, the recall raises questions about how such a serious oversight occurred in the first place. Companies have a legal responsibility to ensure their products meet all federal safety regulations before they reach consumers, and Greater Goods’ failure to do so could expose them to legal action from those harmed by their negligence.
Legal Options for Victims of Defective Consumer Products
Consumers who have been harmed by defective products like the Greater Goods digital kitchen scales may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit. Product liability laws hold manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable when their products cause injury due to design flaws, manufacturing defects, or failure to provide adequate warnings. In this case, Greater Goods may be liable for producing and distributing a kitchen scale that fails to meet federal safety standards, endangering children and other vulnerable consumers.
Victims of defective products can pursue legal action against the responsible parties, seeking compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. Product liability cases typically fall into one of three categories:
- Defective Design: If a product’s design is inherently unsafe, the manufacturer can be held liable for injuries caused by foreseeable risks. The unsecured battery compartment in these kitchen scales could be considered a design defect.
- Manufacturing Defect: Even if a product was designed safely, errors in the manufacturing process could make it dangerous.
- Failure to Warn: If a manufacturer does not include proper warnings about potential dangers, they may be held responsible for injuries caused by their product. In this case, Greater Goods failed to include the required safety warnings mandated by Reese’s Law.
For families who have experienced harm due to battery ingestion, filing a product liability lawsuit may be the best course of action. These cases can help victims recover financial compensation while holding negligent companies accountable for failing to meet safety standards.
The Product Liability Lawsuit Process
The legal process for a product liability case involves several important steps, beginning with gathering evidence to establish that the defective product caused harm. Medical records, expert testimony, and product testing reports can help prove that the product’s failure to meet safety standards directly contributed to the injury.
Once sufficient evidence has been collected, an attorney files a formal complaint against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer responsible for the product. This legal document outlines the claims against the company, including allegations of negligence, design defects, and failure to warn consumers of potential risks.
After the lawsuit is filed, both sides engage in discovery, where they exchange evidence and interview witnesses. This phase is crucial for building a strong case and demonstrating the full extent of the harm caused by the defective product. Many product liability cases are settled before trial, with the defendant offering compensation to avoid further legal action. However, if a settlement cannot be reached, the case may go to court, where a judge or jury will determine liability and award damages accordingly.
Why Victims Need Legal Representation
Product liability lawsuits can be complex, requiring knowledge of both federal safety regulations and legal strategies for proving negligence. Victims who attempt to handle these cases on their own often face challenges in proving liability and negotiating fair compensation.
Manufacturers and retailers have legal teams dedicated to minimizing their responsibility, which makes it critical for injured consumers to have legal representation.An experienced attorney can investigate the case, gather necessary evidence, and build a compelling argument to prove that the manufacturer’s failure to comply with federal regulations directly led to harm. They can also negotiate with insurance companies and opposing counsel to secure a fair settlement or, if necessary, take the case to trial. Without legal assistance, victims may struggle to recover the full amount of damages they are entitled to.
Potential Compensation in a Product Liability Lawsuit
Consumers who have been harmed due to the defective Greater Goods kitchen scales may be entitled to recover compensation for various damages, including:
- Medical Expenses: Costs related to emergency treatment, hospitalization, and long-term care for injuries caused by battery ingestion.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and psychological trauma.
- Lost Wages: If an injury caused by the defective product resulted in time away from work, victims may be eligible for reimbursement.
- Wrongful Death Damages: In cases where a defective product leads to a fatal injury, families may be able to recover damages for funeral expenses and loss of companionship.
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