Toyota was aware of throttle problems last year.

NATIONAL - According to USA Today (1/25, Healey) reports, "Toyota says it knew there were problems with accelerator-pedal assemblies from supplier CTS late last year, but not enough to warrant a recall.

The automaker says it hurriedly announced last Thursday a planned recall of 2.3 million Toyotas, back to 2005 models, because the defect trend had picked up." Toyota "says it has no direct reports of injuries or deaths," but an ABC report has linked "the problem to four deaths."

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Fruit and Vegetable Choppers Sold at Sam’s Club Recalled

NATIONAL - Lifetime Brands has recalled fruit and vegetable choppers because of a laceration hazard. Pedrini Pro Chop Professional Multipurpose Choppers were sold at Sam’s Club locations nationwide from October 2009 through December 2009 for about $25.

According to the recall notice, pieces of the chopper’s metal blades can break off during use and fall into food being prepared in the chopper, posing a laceration hazard to consumers. Lifetime Brands has received three reports of blades breaking off during use, including one report of minor cuts to a consumer’s mouth when a small piece of blade became lodged in food that had been sliced by the chopper.

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Toyota issues new recall for 2.3M vehicles to fix gas pedals

NATIONAL - ABC World News (1/21, lead story, 3:10, Sawyer) reported, "Breaking news this evening. Toyota is recalling 2.3 million cars and trucks tonight, trying to tackle the frightening problem of cars suddenly speeding out of control." The CBS Evening News (1/21, story 8, 0:20, Couric) noted that "late last year Toyota recalled more than four million vehicles because the accelerator pedal can get stuck in the floor mats. Well, today another huge recall. More than two million Toyotas covering eight model years from 2005 to 2010. The accelerator can get stuck in those vehicles as well, even without a floor mat."

The most recent recall, according to NBC Nightly News (1/21, story 6, 0:20, Williams), "is in addition to 4.3 million Toyotas recently recalled for a floor mat problem that could cause the accelerator to stick." The New York Times (1/22, B8, Bunkley) points out, "The first recall was to fix a design flaw that could cause the gas pedal to become trapped under the floor mat." But Toyota "continued to be dogged by reports of unintended acceleration and stuck pedals even in cases where the floor mats had been removed, a stopgap measure recommended" by the company. The Times says the recall affects some year models of the Avalon, Camry, Tundra, Sequoia, RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Highlander, and "the Pontiac Vibe, a mechanical twin to the Matrix." Not affected are "Lexus or Scion models" or the Prius.

 

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WALT DISNEY WORLD – OSHA fine reduction – workplace safety issues

ORLANDO – According to the AP, a fine issued to Walt Disney World by a federal workplace safety agency (OSHA) for a serious violation that contributed to the death of a worker during a summer monorail accident has been reduced by 20 percent.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Walt Disney World signed a settlement agreement on Friday. The original fines totaling of $44,000 has been reduced to $35,200 for workplace safety violations.

Under the agreement, Disney says it will correct all four safety violations cited by OSHA.

Chrysler to recall 24,000 vehicles over brake defect.

NATIONAL - The AP (1/19) reported, "Chrysler Group LLC is recalling 24,177 vehicles because of a defect that could result in brake failure. The recall includes 2010 models of the

• Chrysler Sebring,
• Dodge Avenger,
• Dodge Nitro,
• Jeep Commander,
• Jeep Grand Cherokee, 
• Jeep Liberty,
• 2009-10 Dodge Ram pickup."

Chrysler "said the problem was discovered during routine quality inspections and that it received no owner complaints or reports of injuries." The Wall Street Journal (1/20, Linebaugh) noted that the NHTSA announced the recall.

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CPSC announces recall of 635K cribs.

NATIONAL - In a story appearing on at least 177 news websites, the AP (1/19) reported, "A Barbados-based company on Tuesday recalled about 635,000 cribs sold by Kmart, Sears, Wal-Mart and other stores after the death of a 6-month-old boy and multiple reports of injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of 20 models of Dorel Asia cribs with both drop sides and fixed front rails. Some of the Chinese- and Vietnamese-made cribs were recalled because their drop sides can detach, creating a space where a child can be trapped and suffocate or strangle."

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Florida Supreme Court says hospitals must warn patients about medical malpractice limits.

STATEWIDE - The AP (1/14) reported, "The Florida Supreme Court says hospitals must warn patients about a state law that bars malpractice lawsuits for birth-related neurological injuries." Patients who receive proper notification "cannot sue but receive limited no-fault compensation if something goes wrong." But, "the justices Thursday ruled hospitals that fail to do so can then be sued even if a patient's doctor provided a notice required by a law designed to reduce malpractice cases against obstetricians."

MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH - Three people injured in Seminole crash

SEMINOLE — Officials said, at least three people were injured in a crash on 113th Street N near the Seminole Post Office.

According the the PCSO, two (2) drivers and a pedestrian were injured when an SUV and a truck pulling a trailer collided on 113th Street.  One of the vehicles was attempting to turn into the Seminole Community Library /St. Petersburg College and the pedestrian was struck by the trailer, which rolled.

All three people were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

No charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.

Motorcycle accident – Fatality in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG - A Seminole man died early Saturday when he crashed his motorcycle on Tyrone Boulevard.

The driver of the motorcycle was thrown from his bike at around 1:45 a.m. in the 3900 block of Tyrone Boulevard North. St. Petersburg police officials said the biker lost control of his 2008 Honda motorcycle before the crash. The bike skidded on its side nearly 100 feet. The biker , who was wearing a helmet, struck a signpost along the road.

The biker was taken to Bayfront Medical Center for treatment and was declared dead at 3:09 a.m.

SEMINOLE PEDESTRIAN KILLED BY MOTORCYLCE

PINELLAS COUNTY - THE FHP says a motorcycle hit and killed a man on Starkey Road in Seminole Friday night. Troopers say a husband and wife were walking across the street. The wife made it across, however the husband was hit. Troopers say the couple was not in a crosswalk.

The investigation is ongoing.

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FLORIDA - Chinese Drywall Problems - Builders may have known as early as 2006

In a 4300-word column in the Broward (FL) New Times (1/5), Tim Elfrink discussed the Chinese drywall problem in Florida. A New Times investigation, "with reporting from a freelance writer in Beijing, has found that some of the Chinese manufacturers who made the tainted drywall are still producing it by the truckload - likely without any new safeguards in place. And if these manufacturers deserve the blame, so do the builders, the contractors, and the suppliers who had documented evidence at least as early as 2006 that something was wrong with the drywall." Jeremy Alters, a Florida lawyer representing some homeowners, said, "It's awfully hard to believe [builders] were buying this quantity of Chinese drywall, putting it in homes, and not knowing what was going on." State Sen. Dave Aronberg said, "The only people taking any initiative are trial lawyers." He added, "The government has dragged its feet on testing, the state has not acted... and there's been no real legislation."

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