October 1, 2024
September 3, 2024:
August 28, 2024:
August 27, 2024:
August 22, 2024
July 17, 2024:
The court found that plaintiffs had not adequately specified the defective parts responsible for alleged nosedives.
Judge Labson stated, "Defendant argues that Plaintiffs have not adequately alleged a defect because nosedives are an effect of a defect but not an independent defect and Plaintiffs have identified numerous purportedly defective parts without clearly identifying which of those parts is defective. Plaintiffs argue that they have adequately alleged a defect and they need not allege the causal pathway of the defect to state a claim."
July 4, 2024:
June 15, 2024:
June 3, 2024:
May 16, 2024:
May 9, 2024:
Future Motion Inc., the maker of Onewheel electric skateboards, finds itself at the center of increasing legal scrutiny as the number of product liability class action lawsuits rises. These actions are a response to a defect that allegedly causes the skateboards to stop abruptly, throwing riders off and leading to severe injuries.
The central complaint among riders is that the Onewheel can unexpectedly shut off during use, causing riders to be ejected from the board. This has led to various injuries among users, including serious conditions like bone fractures, paralysis, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries.
Claimants argue that Future Motion failed to provide adequate warnings about these risks, raising questions about the product's safety.
While on the market, Future Motion faced numerous reports of incidents involving the Onewheel skateboard, including four reported deaths between 2019 and 2021.
Despite these alarming reports and a warning from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in November 2022 about the ejection hazard posed by these skateboards, Future Motion initially resisted recalling the products.
“CPSC urges consumers not to buy the Onewheel [or] use it due to the ejection hazard....CPSC urges consumers NOT to resell or donate the Onewheel, so others are not put in danger by the hazard.”
The company eventually announced a recall of Onewheel skateboards on September 29, 2023, This recall was an acknowledgment of the potential for the skateboards to lose balance if pushed beyond their limits, posing a significant crash hazard. Future Motion offered a firmware update to mitigate this issue, introducing a warning system to alert riders of approaching board limits or error conditions.
The recall encompasses all models of Future Motion’s Onewheel skateboards, specifically:
Before the recall, at least three wrongful death lawsuits had been filed, asserting that the Onewheel skateboard was inherently unsafe. The subsequent recall led to an increase in customer lawsuits, reaching a point where consolidation into a multidistrict litigation was deemed necessary.
Last December, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) decided to centralize all federally filed class action lawsuits concerning the Onewheel skateboard in the Northern District of California.
This consolidation aims to streamline the litigation process, with The Honorable Beth Labson Freeman appointed to oversee the proceedings. This move is significant, as it brings together numerous cases alleging injuries and safety failures associated with the Onewheel skateboard.
Efforts towards a potential early resolution of the litigation have seen the involved parties meeting with a U.S. Magistrate Judge. The initial conference, which took place on February 15, 2024, opened discussions on how to address the claims comprehensively. Before these talks, both sides were tasked with selecting three representative cases each, a crucial step meant to be completed by April 10, 2024, to facilitate negotiations.
The Onewheel safety failure litigation is In Re: Future Motion Inc. Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3087, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division.
Have you or someone close to you been hurt while riding a Onewheel skateboard? It's important to recognize that what you've experienced isn't right. You deserve to have your story heard and to explore your options for seeking the justice you're owed.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When we're talking about mass tort and class action lawsuits, we're discussing two distinct legal approaches used to handle claims where many individuals are harmed by the same entity or event.
Mass tort lawsuits are a way to handle legal cases where many individuals have been harmed, but each person's situation is distinct. Think of it like a neighborhood where every house has different damage after a storm. In a mass tort, each homeowner would file their own lawsuit, but because the storm is the common factor, the court groups the lawsuits together to manage them more efficiently. The key here is that each person retains their own case and has a say in how it's settled, which reflects their unique damages.
In contrast, class action lawsuits and class action settlements bring people together under a single legal action. It's as if the whole neighborhood decided to sue the storm together, with one or a few neighbors representing everyone's interests. Here, individual control is limited. The representative, known as the lead plaintiff, along with their legal team, makes decisions that affect the entire group. When it comes to the payout, it's typically split evenly, or based on a formula that applies to all members.
Let's quickly sum up the main points to help you decide which legal route could work better for your situation:
So, if you're part of a group that's been wronged and you're thinking about legal action, consider these points. Do you need to maintain control over your case, or are you okay with a representative taking the lead? Do your damages require individual attention, or are they similar enough to others to share in a collective claim? Your answers will help determine whether a mass tort or a class action is the best route for your situation.
Injury Claims keeps you informed about lawsuits large and small that could affect your daily life. We simplify the complexities of class actions lawsuits, open class action settlements, mass torts, and individual cases to ensure you understand how these legal matters could impact your rights and interests.
If you think a recent legal case might affect you, action is required. Select a class action lawsuit or class action settlement, share your details, and connect with a qualified attorney who will explain your legal options and assist in pursuing any compensation due. Take the first step now to secure your rights.
