October 1, 2013 — Festool USA and the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) have recalled TS 55 REQ Plunge Cut Circular Saws due to a laceration hazard. No injuries have been reported, but one incident involving property damage occurred when the plunge lock engaged unexpectedly, allowing the blade to remain exposed after a cut was completed.
The TS 55 REQ is a small, portable circular saw with a 160-mm blade, aluminum guide rails, and a plunge cut feature. The saws were sold online and in retail stores from May until July 2013. Recalled products include date codes ranging from February 2013 until May 2013 and serial numbers 40033594 through 40074108.
Manufacturers are facing a growing number of table saw injury lawsuits. Black & Decker was hit with four lawsuits in September 2013. Plaintiffs from Texas, Kentucky, Indiana, and Arkansas allege that certain table saws are defective and unreasonably dangerous because they do not have a riving knife.
Other lawsuits allege that manufacturers were negligent for failing to install flesh-sensing safety technology (known as “SawStop”) on all of their products. Advocates of the technology say it could prevent most of the 67,000 lacerations and 3,500 amputations associated with table saws every year.
In August 2010, a jury awarded $1.5 million to Carlos Osorio, a man who was injured on a Ryobi benchtop table saw a few weeks after learning how to use the tool. The accident severely mutilated his hand, requiring five surgeries and nearly $400,000 in medical bills.
Lawmakers in California and federal officials with the CPSC have proposed laws that would set federal standards for table saw safety features. The CPSC hosted a lengthy public commentary period, but did not impose new regulations on manufacturers. Lawmakers in the California House passed the Table Saw Safety Act (AB 2218), which would have required SawStop on all table saws sold in California by 2015. However, the law was struck down in the California Senate in August 2012.
Do I have a Table Saw Injury Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting table saw induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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