lume 24
Products Liability
Law Reporter
2005
Annual Index
and
Table of Cases
for
Volume 24
CONTENTS
How to Use This Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PL-2
General Index by Subject . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PL-3
Table of Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PL-7
Insight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PL-12
News and Agency Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PL-13
Injury Awards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PL-14
Wrongful Death Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PL-15
�
2006 by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Education Fund
PL-2
How to Use This Index
The Products Liability Law Reporter Annual Index is designed to make your 2005 issues of the Products Liability Law
Reporter a reliable and accessible research tool. Here are a few things you should know to make the best use of your index:
General Index by Subject (page PL-3). The major subject headings in the General Index correspond to the areas cov-
ered in each issue of the Products Liability Law Reporter.
To locate a particular kind of case, first determine into which area your inquiry falls. Entries within each subject include
both factual and legal issues. The numbers after the entries are the page numbers in Volume 24 of the Products Liability
Law Reporter where the cases appear.
Table of Cases (page PL-7). This table includes the most complete citations available as of November 2005.
News and Agency Actions (page PL-13). This index lists issues that have been discussed in news stories appearing in
the Reporter and products involved in administrative actions taken by government agencies.
Injury Awards (page PL-14). Entries in this section will direct you to cases in the Products Liability Law Reporter that
contain awards of damages for particular types of injuries. The following abbreviations are used in this section of the in-
dex: V for verdict, J for judgment, S for settlement, SS for structured settlement, PVS for postverdict settlement, AA for
arbitration award, and PAS for postarbitration settlement. An asterisk beside an entry indicates plaintiff suffered injuries
in addition to the one(s) listed.
Wrongful Death Awards (page PL-15). This table lists the wrongful death awards reported in Volume 24 of the
Products Liability Law Reporter. The following abbreviations are used in this section of the index: V for verdict, J for judg-
ment, S for settlement, SS for structured settlement, PVS for postverdict settlement, AA for arbitration award, and PAS
for postarbitration settlement.
To Obtain Further Information About a Case. The Products Liability Law Reporter provides pleadings, depositions,
briefs, and other court documents through the Court Documents section each month. That column also provides a list
of Abstract Setseach set includes a collection of case summaries on a specific topic that have appeared in the Reporter
since 1993. You can also order Ultimate Document Sets, which include documents from at least seven different cases on
the topic, an Abstract Set, and a bylined article. The best source for additional information about a case is plaintiffs coun-
sel. The name and location of plaintiff s counsel is provided, where possible, at the end of our report of the case. Your
ATLA membership directory will provide you with the complete address and telephone number of any ATLA member.
The directory is available online at www.atla.org.
Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Products Liability Law Reporter
Leonard M. Ring Law Center
1050 31st Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20007
Editor in Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter C. Quinn
Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine M. Mollenauer
Contributing Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liane Leshne Blumenthal
Cheryl Flax-Davidson
Assistant Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Alice Patterson
Publications Specialist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Thomas I. Products
agricultural products
herbicide, 108
pesticide, 107
aircraft
airplane, 117
engine, 177
crankshaft, 93
fuel servo, 13
helicopter,
sprag clutches, 47
chemicals
perfluorooctanoic acid, 59
thimerosal, 58, 198
childrens products
baby swing, 78
bed, special-needs, 88
child safety seats, 179
crib sheet, fitted, 167
toddler bed, 78
clothing
bulletproof vests, 159
commercial products and equipment
busway system, 127
crowd control system, 48
deep fryer, 147
doors, swinging double, 52
exterior porch elevator, 3
grease filter machine, 67
lead paint, 169
light fixtures, 4
manufactured home, 168, 168
staircase, 148
Teflon, 59, 156
consumer products
baseboard heater, 5
body care product, 23
cell phone, 87, 201
chair, 170
deep-fat fryer, 24
electric juicers, 370
extension ladder, 187
folding table, 6
halogen lamp, 108
lighter, 188
sofa, 5
tattoo inks, 178
water heater, 148
utility lighter, 169
window air conditioner unit, 5
see also childrens products
drugs and dietary supplements
Accutane, 14, 15
Alka-Seltzer Plus, 25
Avelox, 190
Baycol, 15
Bextra, 14, 15
Celebrex, 14
Crestor, 14, 15, 118
diethylstilbestrol, 88
doxycycline, 189
Duract, 6
ephedra, 7, 98
Infant Tylenol, 24
Meridia, 14
Metabolife 356, 79
naproxen, 14
OxyContin, 16
Pondimin, 49, 89, 128
Propulsid, 49
Prozac, 35
Redux, 49
Serevent, 14
Serzone, 181
supplements generally, 15
tetanus toxoid vaccination, 189
thimerosal, 58, 198
Vioxx, 78, 118, 149, 157, 158
Zoloft, 108, 148
Zyprexa, 138
farm products and equipment
milking machine, 190
pesticide, 191
firearms and related products
179, 180, 180,
181
bulletproof vests, 159
handgun, 140
revolver, 171
rifle, 171
stun guns, 34, 138, 159, 159
food and beverages
barbecued beans, 171
beef, 140
beer, 79
gel candy, 41, 50
green onions, 201
popcorn butter flavoring, 109
sushi, 68
household products and equipment
air cleaners, 118
clothes dryer, 69
furnace controller, 51
hot water heater, 50
lead paint, 169
microwave oven, 69
riding lawn mower, 89
stove, 110
toaster, 68
industrial products and equipment
asbestos, 17, 101, 111, 131
asbestos-containing products, 28, 71, 130
flex connectors, 28
furnace cement, 173
gaskets, 27, 70, 130
insulating boards, 173
insulating cement, 173
insulation, 90
joint compound, 27, 110
pipe covering, 70
pump, 130
respirators, 101
rope, 173
thermal insulation, 130
valve packing, 130
automotive lift, 151
blow fan, 128
carabiner, 149
chain sling hook, 72
crane boom, 172
drill rig, 172
electrical switchboard, 70
flex connectors, 28
foil interfolder machine, 132
forklift, 25, 52, 53
gaskets, 27, 70
interior scaffold, 173
joint compound, 110
laminating machine, 27
meat press machine, 72
metal fabricating lathe, 111
panel cutter, 131
paper mill equipment, 192
pipe covering, 70
pneumatic pump, 150
printing press, 51
production line machinery, 129
pumper fire truck, 8
recycling machinery, 151
safety boot, 192
silica dust, 26
switch gear, 192
trailer conveyor, 8
trash compactor, 150
wire processing system, 69
wood panel finishing line, 9
medical products and equipment
anesthesia machine, 29
artificial knee, 10, 181
blood-salvaging machine, 53
heart defibrillators, 137
heart pump, 179
hip prosthesis, 90
latex gloves, 91, 112
pacemaker, 9
spermicide, 98
surgical cautery device, 53
surgical stapler, 29, 101
surgical staples, 119
thimerosal, 58, 198
vaccines, 58
tetanus toxoid vaccination, 189
vein-grafting device, 193
motor vehicle accessories/components
air bag, 32, 41, 75, 95, 119
clockspring, 32
sensor, 134
backup alarm system, 73
black boxes, 158
brake transmission shift interlock, 54
child safety seats, 179
control arm ball stud, 41
door latch system, 155, 156
electronic control module, 154
electronic shift-on-the-fly system, 153
flange nut securing seat, 10
frame, 174
fuel pump, 56
fuel system, 119, 176
fuel tank, 31, 78, 115
grab handle, 97
head restraints, 199
intake manifolds, 200
liftgate door, 33
motorcycle conversion kit, 56
motorcycle helmet, 135, 154
occupant restraint system, 55, 132, 135, 136,
155, 156, 194, 197
seat belt, 11, 12, 94, 96, 174, 174,
179
buckle, 113, 174
half-passive belt system, 116
lap/shoulder belts, 37
seat/head restraints, 16
PL-3
General Index by Subject PL-4
rollback, 176
roof, 73, 94, 95, 96, 99, 113, 132, 133, 135,
155, 174, 179
seat/seat back, 10, 11, 31, 74, 77, 77, 96,
97, 114, 116, 133, 140, 159, 200
side structures, 197
spotlight handle, 96
steering wheel, 136
suspension, 55
tire, 74, 76, 133, 174, 195
transmission, 73, 153, 155
wheel, 196
wheel assembly, 41
windows, 96, 97, 116, 133, 134, 174, 194
motor vehicles
fire truck, 8
freight trains, 158
minivans, 140, 199
Dodge Caravan,
(1998), 31
(2000), 174
Oldsmobile Silhouette (1993), 33
Plymouth Voyager (1994), 41
passenger cars,
BMW 325i sedan (1986), 197
Chevrolet Camaro, 98
Chevrolet Caprice (1990), 54
police cruiser (1996), 96
Chevrolet Cavalier (1999), 133
Ford Crown Victoria, 116
(1996), 94
Police Interceptor, 31, 78
Ford Escort (1997), 114
Ford Escort LX,
(1990), 116
(1996), 116, 200
Ford Taurus (1989), 156
Honda Accord (1985), 136
Honda Civic, 198
(1996), 32
Kia Rio, 98
Lexus 300 ES (1999), 95
Lincoln LS (2000), 159
Lincoln Town Car (1993), 115
Mazda B Series, 98
Mercury Grand Marquis, 116
Mitsubishi Mirage, 98
Pontiac Firebird, 98
Pontiac Grand Prix (1991), 75
Volkswagen Jetta, 95
Volkswagen Passat (1996), 41
pickup trucks, 119
Chevrolet CK (1986), 176
Chevrolet S-10 (1998), 132
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 (1997), 41
Dodge Ram 4x4 (2001), 155
Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab (1999),
153
Ford F-250, 96
Gener