Colorado Law Blog

Consumer Complaints to be Shared

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:14:47 -0700

The federal government is ready to make public thousands of complaints it receives each year about safety problems with various consumer products. The compilation of consumer complaints, set to be launched online in March by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has been hailed by consumer advocates as a resource that will revolutionize the way people make buying decisions.

New Food Safety Law

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:01:22 -0700

The legislation, widely hailed as the most sweeping update to U.S. food safety law since the Great Depression, survived a constitutional slip-up, repeated filibuster threats, fierce debate over controversial amendments, and managed to advance amidst a jam-packed legislative agenda in one of the most productive Congresses in recent history. The legislative wrangling ended Tuesday when the president signed the bill into law.

Website Provides Comprehensive List of Recalled Items

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:46:18 -0700

With the daily recall notices making the news, it is a herculean task to track recalled products and foods that might be harmful. The challenge has just become much easier with a new site www.ClickCheckandProtect.org, a Consumer Reports companion site, the product of a newly formed National School Safety Coalition convened by Consumer Reports, the National Parent Teacher Assn. and the National School Boards Assn.

Accidental Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:42:51 -0700

Five young men celebrating a birthday likely died due to carbon monoxide (CO) from a car they left running in a garage under their South Florida motel room, investigators have concluded. A maid called authorities Monday after seeing people unconscious through a window.

Juror Tweeting Results in Challenged Verdicts

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:28:35 -0700

The technological age is wreaking havoc the judicial system. Jurors' Internet research, blog comments and tweets have led to dozens of mistrials, appeals and overturned verdicts. Reuters Legal checked Westlaw for challenges related to jurors' Internet conduct and found 90 verdicts called into question since 1999. More than half the cases are from the last two years. In 28 of the cases, 21 of them since January 2009, judges granted new trials or overturned verdicts.

Wal-Mart recalls 2.2 million electric heaters

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 12:18:59 -0700

Just as the weather reports predict plummeting temperatures, Wal-Mart Stores have recalled about 2.2 million electric heaters after receiving reports of burn injuries and property damage from fire. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of "Flow Pro," "Airtech," "Aloha Breeze" and "Comfort Essentials" heaters sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide from December 2001 to October 2009.

Suicide Incentive from New Year Tax Hike on Inheritance?

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:06:55 -0700

As the year 2010 draws to a close, many are making New Year's resolutions - but what about resolving to leave your heirs more money? A the year closes, so too does the estate tax holiday that gave heirs a one-year exemption from taxation on inheritances. Next year estates will be subject to taxes of up to 55 percent, with a $1 million exemption, if Congress does nothing, TaxProf Blog reports. If Congress enacts a compromise bill, the rate will be 35 percent, with a $5 million exemption.

Avoid Too Much Alcohol

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:58:06 -0700

This time of year is full of parties and celebrations - many of which offer ample alcohol to add to the festivities. But the 28- year-old Snowmass ski-lift operator whose body was found Monday after a two-week search is a stark reminder of the dangers of drinking. The young man was extremely intoxicated, which probably contributed to his fall from the Maroon Creek Bridge, the Pitkin County coroner's office said yesterday. He died instantly in the fall, but he also had a blood-alcohol content of 0.294 percent, which is 3 1/2 times the legal limit for driving. The ski area employee was last seen when he got off a bus near the bridge late on November 27th.

Hospitals to Publicly Report on Infection Rates

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:15:29 -0700

With the beginning of the new year, most U.S. hospitals will begin reporting the number of patients who contract bloodstream infections following their treatment in intensive-care units. The new reporting requirement for the infections is technically voluntary, but if any of the nation's 4,300 acute-care hospitals don't comply, they will lose 2 percent of their Medicare funding beginning in fiscal year 2013.

Ballot Proposal Aims at Supremes

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:23:35 -0700

During the recent election, Colorado's Supreme Court judges survived an attempt to oust them from office but now a new effort is underway to limit the justices to a mere two-year term.

Consider Safety When Selecting Toys

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:17:22 -0700

This time of year, most children are eagerly awaiting gifts of toys. But the safety of those new toys is never certain. Since 1974, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued more than 850 recalls for toy products. In 2007, 45 million toys had to be recalled.

Right to Have Parent Present

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:01:10 -0700

A frequent question posed by concerned parents is whether a child can be questioned by law enforcement without a parent present. A story that could easily be a Law and Order plot answers that question; a judge on Monday tossed out a videotaped interrogation of a 14-year-old Colorado Springs boy accused of killing his younger brother. The judge found that police failed to properly advise the youngster of his right to have a parent in the room.

Early Heavy Snow Results in Winter Driving Conditions

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:45:19 -0700

With one to two feet of new snow falling in the Colorado Rockies, Thanksgiving holiday visitors to the ski slopes are rejoicing. But for those travelers driving to a holiday destination, the response to the heavy snow fall is less joyful.

The Myth of Hot Coffee Cases

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:20:03 -0700

The punchline for many late night comics and the common sneer against personal injury lawsuits. Everyone knows the McDonald's coffee case, even fifteen years after the accident. It has been routinely cited as an example of how broken is our legal system, even generating the "Stella Awards."

COSTCO Cheese Contamination Woes Continue

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:44:46 -0700

Check that cheese! beforeThe Colorado Department of Health and Environment is warning consumers who purchased Mauri Gorgonzola cheese at Costco stores, sell by dates of Jan. 13 and 14, 2011, not to eat the cheese. The cheese was recalled late Wednesday after tests by the state health department found E. coli 0157:H7 in an unopened 1 pound package of gorgonzola. The cheese was distributed only to Costco stores in Colorado.