Jo-Ann Stores Issues Recall For Place & Time Battery-Operated Desk Lamps Over Fire Hazard

Product Recalls - October 5, 2024

Place & Time Battery-Operated Desk Lamps Sold At Jo-Ann Store Recalled Because The Lamps May Inadvertently Cause Fires

Jo-Ann Stores Issues Recall For Place & Time Battery-Operated Desk Lamps Over Fire Hazard

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (October 4, 2024) – Place & Time Battery-Operated Desk Lamps sold at Jo-Ann Stores have been recalled because they can create a fire hazard.

The recall was issued on September 19, 2024. Around 9,700 units were sold. The lamps come in green, pink, and cream colors.

Model numbers for the affected units are 4843351B, 4843351A, and 4843351D. The problem with the Place & Time Battery-Operated Desk Lamps is that the battery compartment can overheat and create a fire hazard.

Liability For Fires Caused By Consumer Goods

Fires remain one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death in the United States. Many of these fires are caused by defective batteries. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “In February 2018, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Status Report on High Energy Density Batteries Project reported over 25,000 overheating or fire incidents involving more than 400 types of lithium battery- powered consumer products that occurred over a five-year period.” There are a number of potential issues with batteries that could cause them to catch fire.

  • Thermal Runway: When a lithium-ion cell’s temperature increases beyond a certain point, this can lead to a self-sustained chain reaction that may result in a fire.
  • Short Circuit: When a battery’s positive and negative terminals come into direct contact, this can lead to a rapid discharge of energy.
  • Physical Damage: Damage to a battery, such as punctures, can lead to short circuits and thermal runway.
  • Manufacturing Defects: Any flaw during the manufacturing process of lithium-ion batteries can cause overheating and fires. Defects can include impurities in the cell material.

Companies that create lamps and other consumer goods must take measures to ensure that they are reasonably safe. It is well known that lithium-ion batteries can become fire hazards under certain adverse conditions. For that reason, companies that make lamps must ensure that all of their products that contain lithium-ion batteries adhere to strict safety standards. When a company fails to warn consumers about the dangers of their products, this could form the basis of a strict liability claim. Victims of residential fires tend to suffer very serious injuries.

  • Burns
  • Smoke inhalation
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Lacerations
  • Organ damage

There is a push and pull in the interests of every company. They want to make their goods as cheaply and efficiently as possible. But they also need to make them safe. There is often tension between these two goals. Unfortunately, many companies make safety cuts that lead their products to be needlessly dangerous or violate safety standards. Any person that is injured by a dangerous product may have legal recourse through a civil claim.

Getting Legal Help For Fires Caused By Consumer Goods

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates were deeply concerned to hear about the issues with the Place & Time Battery-Operated Desk Lamps sold at Jo-Ann Stores. It is deeply fortunate that there have been no reported injuries thus far. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to ensure that other lamps being sold are compliant with safety standards.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a fire with a lamp? You may have legal recourse. Our team of product liability attorneys is here for you. We are committed to helping accident victims get the medical and financial assistance they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.