Discussion:
Glade Plug-In Class Action
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Burned in 2004
2004-06-24 14:17:49 UTC
Permalink
Our home burned down recently, and from all appearances <sigh>, it
appears that the fire may have been caused from a Glade Plug-In. How
can I talk to an attorney already involved in a class action in this
matter?
Thanks.
Eliyahu Rooff
2004-06-26 15:04:35 UTC
Permalink
Post by Burned in 2004
Our home burned down recently, and from all appearances <sigh>, it
appears that the fire may have been caused from a Glade Plug-In.
How
Post by Burned in 2004
can I talk to an attorney already involved in a class action in this
matter?
Thanks.
First, you'd have to determine that there actually is a class action
lawsuit in place. According to the info at
http://www.snopes.com/toxins/glade.asp , it may well be just another
e-mailed rumor. Meanwhile, instead of guessing "from appearances"
(whatever that means), get a copy of the investigation report done
by the fire department or State Fire Marshal, if one was done by
him.

Eliyahu
Paul Cassel
2004-06-26 15:04:42 UTC
Permalink
Post by Burned in 2004
Our home burned down recently, and from all appearances <sigh>, it
appears that the fire may have been caused from a Glade Plug-In. How
can I talk to an attorney already involved in a class action in this
matter?
A simple Web search will reveal that your hopes for becoming rich by
exploiting a class action suit here will likely come to naught (but hope
springs eternal!). That these plug-ins cause fires seems to be an Internet
hoax or an urban legend (take your choice). Here is one version which rates
the legend as neutral - that is neither true nor false:

http://www.snopes.com/toxins/glade.asp

There maybe something to the idea that loose plugs plugged into the things
may cause fires, but I think that's currently unproved. What you should be
doing now is not hoping for jackpots such as you hear from news stories when
stupid old women spill coffee on themseleves, but you should contact your
insurance company about replacing your property. The insurance company will
worry about class actions and recovery from JnJ if such does occur.

The product was recently recalled. Ongoing information about the recall can
be found at this link. This will give you a chance to register your
complaint and maybe be the start of your very own class action suit.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml02/02144.html

-paul
ianal
Eliyahu Rooff
2004-06-27 23:32:33 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul Cassel
Post by Burned in 2004
Our home burned down recently, and from all appearances <sigh>, it
appears that the fire may have been caused from a Glade Plug-In.
How
Post by Paul Cassel
Post by Burned in 2004
can I talk to an attorney already involved in a class action in this
matter?
A simple Web search will reveal that your hopes for becoming rich by
exploiting a class action suit here will likely come to naught (but hope
springs eternal!). That these plug-ins cause fires seems to be an Internet
hoax or an urban legend (take your choice). Here is one version which rates
http://www.snopes.com/toxins/glade.asp
There maybe something to the idea that loose plugs plugged into the things
may cause fires, but I think that's currently unproved. What you should be
doing now is not hoping for jackpots such as you hear from news stories when
stupid old women spill coffee on themseleves,
I'm not sure why you'd refer to the victim of severe burns as a "stupid
old woman," but if you're referring to the McDonald's coffee case, read
the ATLA summary first at:
http://www.atla.org/consumermediaresources/tier3/press_room/facts/frivolous/mcdonaldscoffeecase.aspx

In pertinent part:

"Stella Liebeck of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was in the passenger seat of
her grandson's car when she was severely burned by McDonald's coffee in
February 1992. Liebeck ordered coffee that was served in a Styrofoam cup
at the drive-through window of a local McDonald's.
After receiving the order, the grandson pulled his car forward and
stopped momentarily so that Liebeck could add cream and sugar to her
coffee. (Critics of civil justice, who have pounced on this case, often
charge that Liebeck was driving the car or that the vehicle was in
motion when she spilled the coffee; neither is true.) Liebeck placed the
cup between her knees and attempted to remove the plastic lid from the
cup. As she removed the lid, the entire contents of the cup spilled into
her lap.
The sweatpants Liebeck was wearing absorbed the coffee and held it next
to her skin. A vascular surgeon determined that Liebeck suffered full
thickness burns (or third-degree burns) over 6 percent of her body,
including her inner thighs, perineum, buttocks, and genital and groin
areas. She was hospitalized for eight days, during which time she
underwent skin grafting. Liebeck, who also underwent debridement
treatments, sought to settle her claim for $20,000, but McDonald's
refused.
During discovery, McDonald's produced documents showing more than 700
claims by people burned by its coffee between 1982 and 1992. Some claims
involved third-degree burns substantially similar to Liebeck's. This
history documented McDonald's knowledge about the extent and nature of
this hazard."

Eliyahu

Gerald Clough
2004-06-26 15:04:49 UTC
Permalink
Post by Burned in 2004
Our home burned down recently, and from all appearances <sigh>, it
appears that the fire may have been caused from a Glade Plug-In. How
can I talk to an attorney already involved in a class action in this
matter?
Thanks.
What suit? I don't find one. SC Johnson recalled extra-outlet fresheners
because of a possible risk. They are frequently the subject of bogus
"Glade plug-in burned my house down" Internet hoaxes. I find no actual
determination that they have ever caused a fire. Since you say "may have
caused," I presume that was not a determination of the local fire marshal.
--
Gerald Clough
"Nothing has any value, unless you know you can give it up."
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