Attorney Daily - Your source for the most important legal news

On November 20, 2008, approximately 677,300 IKEA and Green Mountain Vista window blinds and shades were recalled in the United States after a young child choked to death.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said a 1-year-old girl from Greenwich, Connecticut, died in April when she got caught in the inner cord of a set of IKEA Roman blinds over her playpen.

The agency also received a report of a 2-year-old girl from Bristol, Connecticut, who nearly died in June on the beaded-chain loop hanging from a set of Green Mountain Vista shades. The girl’s neck was deeply bruised, but she was saved by her older brother.

The recall includes about 670,000 IRIS and ALVINE Roman blinds, manufactured in India and distributed by IKEA Home Furnishings. They were sold at IKEA stores nationwide between July 2005 and June 2008. Another 4.8 million blinds were sold outside the country.

The blinds can be returned to any IKEA store for a full refund.

Also recalled are about 7,300 insulated blackout roller shades and insulated Roman shades manufactured in China by Green Mountain Vista Inc. The shades were sold around the country by Country Curtains, Plow & Hearth, The Linen Source, Sturbridge Yankee Workshop, Ann & Hope, The Sportsman’s Guide, Target.com, The Curtain Shop of Maine, and the Solutions catalog. They were available between June 2005 and September 2008.

Green Mountain Vista shade owners should check to see if the tension device is attached. If not, contact the company for a free repair kit and installation instructions.

For more information on the Green Mountain Vista shades, call 800-639- 1728 or visit their website at http://www.gmvista.com

On September 15, 2008, Nissan Motor Co Ltd announced a recall of 204,361 vehicles from its 2007 and 2008 model years in the United States due to the possibility that a passenger side airbag could fail to deploy properly in an accident.

The voluntary recall covers 2007 and 2008 Nissan Altima, Altima Coupe, 350Z, Murano and Rogue; and Infiniti G35 Sedan, G37 Coupe and EX35 built from March 12, 2007 to May 27, 2008, the company said in a notice to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Nissan said it began to investigate the issue in November 2007 after receiving several warranty reports of airbag warning lamps flashing. In late September, Nissan determined that a safety-related defect existed and it should conduct a recall.

In some vehicles, the passenger side airbag could fail to receive a proper signal and a supplemental airbag warning light could flash and a status light would illuminate to warn the driver that it is not working properly.

Nissan believes less than 1% of the vehicles actually contain the defect. It plans to test the vehicles and replace the hardware if necessary. The recall is expected to begin November 3, 2008.

Continental Automotive Systems U.S. Inc supplied the component to Nissan, according to the notice from the highway safety administration. The supplier is a unit of Continental AG.

The design is unique to Nissan, a Continental spokeswoman said.

On October 29, 2008, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire announced a recall of 162,000 tires made at a Costa Rican plant in 2006 and 2007 and sold in the United States and Canada.

Bridgestone is recalling the all-season passenger car tires because they failed to meet internal standards, adding that continued use could lead to vibration and groove cracking. The voluntary recall involves 135,000 Firestone-brand FR380 tires in the size of P235/75 R15 and 27,000 LeMans Champion SE P235/75 R15 tires.

Consumers can get free replacements at participating independent Firestone tire dealers or through Firestone-owned stores. The replacement tires will be mounted and balanced for free, as well, the tire company said.

The recalled Firestone tires have the following DOT serial numbers on the sidewall: WBHL 380 2306 through and including WBHL 380 3507, or WBUL 380 2306 through and including WBUL 380 3507.

The recalled LeMans Champion SE tires have DOT serial numbers WBHL LC0 2306 through and including WBHL LC0 3506.

People with questions or who want additional information may call toll free: 1-800-465-1904.

Nashville-based Bridgestone Firestone did not have an estimate on how much the recall will cost the company. The recalled tires will be recycled, a spokesman said.

The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration says since 2002 it receives on average 20 tire safety recalls annually.