holiday shopping season ‘10 worst toys’ · cases against e-ciga-rettes are coming up across the...
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Deadly force againstmanhunt suspect justified,D.A. report findsLOCAL | 4
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‘10 WORST TOYS’Consumer watchdog group releases annual list of items that
safety-minded parents may want to cross off their kids’ wish lists COVER STORY | 13 • MORE INFORMATION AT TOYSAFETY.ORG
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W.A.T.C.H.
“Jurassic World” velociraptor claws, left,a quick-folding trampoline, above, and afoam dart gun are among the 10 itemsthat the group World Against ToysCausing Harm is advising parents to skippurchasing for their children.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON
Downing of Russian jet jeopardizescampaign against Islamic State USA TODAY | 16
LocalWednesday, November 25, 2015 The Bakersfield Californian 3
Local
BY J.W. BURCH IV The Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield resident RoyIversen was riding homefrom work on Interstate 5when his electronic ciga-rette, or e-cigarette, explod-ed in his pocket.
“It almost sounded like afirecracker going off on myleg and then it was justflames shooting up about afoot,” Iversen said Tuesdayduring a news conferenceat the office of Chain CohnStiles.
The truck in whichIversen was riding wasgoing slow enough, havingjust exited the freeway, thathe was able to hop out andtake off his pants, he said.His co-worker stopped thetruck and poured water onthe wound. Iversen wouldhave a skin graft surgerywithin a week.
Iversen is the third Bak-ersfield resident represent-ed by Chain Cohn Stiles fil-ing a lawsuit regardingexploding e-cigarettes inthe last week. On Nov. 19,Vincente Garza, along withhis attorney Gregory L.Bentley of Shernoff BirdartEcheverria Bentley lawfirm, announced a lawsuitthat alleges the manufac-turing and design of thedevices does not haveenough checks and bal-ances to ensure they aresafe. Gregory Phillips is theother plaintiff.
According to court docu-ments filed by the plaintiffsand their attorneys, Garzawas “vaping” an e-cigarettewhen it exploded in his
mouth and caused severeinjuries to his mouth,tongue and finger. Part ofhis left index finger wasamputated as a result ofthe explosion. He also hadsurgery on his tongueimmediately after theexplosion.
The plaintiffs are seekingvarious kinds of damages,but have not listed a dollaramount.
Bentley said a productliability lawsuit has beenfiled against the storewhere Garza purchased thee-cigarette and battery,Luxor Café Vape Lounge onCalloway Drive; the storethat sold him a charger forthe device, Fame Vape onChester Avenue; and the e-cigarette manufacturer,Flawless Vapes and Sup-plies LLC.
Phillips’ complaint filedin court states his e-ciga-rette exploded in his pock-et. He suffered second-degree burns over most ofhis left leg, which requiredtwo skin graft surgeries.
Phillips is also suing thestore from which he said hepurchased the e-cigarette,Cigarette World 4 on Stock-dale Highway.
Iversen is suing Mr. Cigaron White Lane, which iswhere he said he pur-chased his e-cigarette.
Fame Vape, CigaretteWorld and Mr. Cigar wereunavailable for commenton Tuesday. Luxor CaféVape Lounge is being rep-resented by CampbellWhitten law firm, whichhas not responded to mes-sages seeking comment.
“In all three cases, thebattery exploded,” saidMatthew Clark, a personalinjury lawyer for ChainCohn Stiles. “Because thereis no regulation, theseproducts are being over-looked and safety is beingcompromised.”
Chain Cohn Stiles isworking with Shernoff Bir-dart Echeverria Bentley torepresent the Bakersfieldresidents.
“Mr. Bentley has experi-ence in e-cigarette cases,specifically tracking downinsurance coverage thatcan cover the damages …from exploding and burn-ing e-cigarettes,” Clarksaid. “We’re finding outthere are more and more ofthese cases out there.”
In one case that Bentleytook to trial, San Clementeresident Jennifer Ries wasawarded $1.9 million afterher e-cigarette exploded inher car and caused second-degree burns to her legsand buttocks.
Cases against e-ciga-rettes are coming up acrossthe country.
A Florida case sent EvanSpahlinger into a coma,according to NBC News.
Clark said the issue is alack of regulation.
“These devices aren’tbeing tested, the engineer-ing behind them isn’t beingchecked and that is whythey are catching fire,”Clark said.
“We want to make surethat there are safe productson the market,” said NeilGehlawat, Chain CohnStiles associate attorney.
3rd Bakersfield residentfiling e-cigarette lawsuit
J.W. BURCH IV / THE CALIFORNIAN
Roy Iversen sits next to images of the injuries he received from an exploding e-ciga-rette. On Tuesday, he talked about his injuries during a news conference at theoffices of Chain Cohn Stiles.