Expert Recall

Latest Recall Legislation Could Deter Voluntary Recalls
03-08-2011
Mike Rozembajgier Last month, the Consumer Recall Protection Act of 2011 – a piece of legislation that could have a major impact on companies dealing with recalled products – was introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY). If enacted, this legislation would prohibit the sale of any product that had been previously recalled, no matter what the cause of the recall. While a commendable idea in concept, there are industry concerns that this new regulation could actually deter companies from executing voluntary recalls.

FDA Targets Rx Cold Meds for Removal from Market
03-07-2011
Mike Rozembajgier The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced last week that it is going on the offense, targeting nearly 500 cold, cough, and allergy drugs that are on the market but that the agency says it has never approved. Concerned about the effectiveness and overall safety of medications, the agency is expecting manufacturers to take appropriate action – which could mean a withdrawal or recall. While the companies that manufacture products targeted by the FDA are already aware of the scrutiny and risks associated with this announcement, they need to understand that this is just the beginning. Their recall management will be closely monitored, and anything less than full compliance could mean further regulatory action.

Strong Recall Documentation Expedites Recall Management Process
03-02-2011
Mike Rozembajgier A lawsuit filed after the death of a two year old patient demonstrates the integral role that recall documentation can have in product liability litigation. The parents of boy allege that their son’s severe case of bacterial meningitis, which led to his sudden death, was caused by alcohol wipes and swabs used during his medical care. They filed suit against Triad Group, the company that supplied the products, alleging gross negligence. In this case and others like it, recall management practices and recall documentation can be critical.

Clumsy Recall Management Really Can Damage Your Brand
02-28-2011
Mike Rozembajgier A new report indicates that Toyota’s recent string of recalls has caused the automaker’s brand value to deteriorate, dropping 16 percent to $25.66 billion over the past year. And the latest round of Toyota recalls has reignited discussions about recall management in the automotive industry. Ford’s recent recall of 135,000 F-150 trucks and Toyota’s recall of more than two million vehicles represent two very different approaches to the recall process.

Toyota’s Recall Management Being Tested, Again
02-25-2011
Mike Rozembajgier Just when we thought the case was closed on the Toyota sudden acceleration issue, the automaker has again been forced to put its recall management plans to the test. Not long after Toyota received notice that U.S. safety regulators had completed a 10-month engineering study and found that electronic controls in Toyota vehicles were not to blame for the sudden acceleration problems that led to a string of widely publicized recalls in 2009, the Japanese automaker is now recalling another two million vehicles because of a defect that could cause gas pedals to stick.