When the Law Firm of Robert H. Weiss, PLLC of Jericho, New York learned that the baby bottles and training cups manufactured by all of the largest manufacturers of baby products, they filed a consumer class action law suit in California against Playtex, Gerber, Avent, Evenflo, Handi-Craft (Dr. Brown’s) and Nalgene Nunc to force these companies to disclose the fact that their products intended for use by infants and children, are made with Bisphenol-A (BPA).

BPA is a synthetic hormone used in the manufacture of dozens of plastic products including baby bottles for its transparent, rigid and shatterproof qualities.  The problem concerning scientists since approximately 1998, is that BPA has been shown to break free or leach from these polycarbonate plastic baby bottles and into the baby formula, food and liquid consumed by infants and children.  Hundreds of studies have repeatedly confirmed that BPA, even at very low doses, when consumed by infants and children with immature and underdeveloped immune systems, can cause a shocking number of disorders and cancers, including breast and prostate cancer, childhood obesity, attention deficit disorders, sexual organ deformities, diabetes, neurological brain disorders, and genetic disorders in laboratory animals.  Earlier this year, Canada announced that it was adding BPA to its national list of toxic chemicals and banned its use in the manufacture and sale of children’s products and toys.  As a result of the ban in Canada, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart and other large retail stores have cleared their shelves of BPA baby bottles and cups.

Parents in this country have clamored for the U.S. FDA to take similar action but instead, the FDA, riddled with political appointees with ties to the chemical industry, chose to rely on two grossly flawed studies sponsored and funded by the chemical industry, to base its decision to declare BPA safe for use in plastic products and food containers.  Is so doing, the FDA excluded more than 200 peer-reviewed studies by independent scientists and researchers who found adverse health problems associated with BPA.  This disgrace is being investigated by Congress which already began hearings to investigate the FDA in order to determine exactly how it came to declare BPA as safe, as well as who was responsible for this decision.  The congressional investigation is still in progress.

In the meantime, since the Weiss firm filed the first law suit back in March of 2007, it stood alone against these large corporations until recently when the large class action firms became involved by filing their own similar law suits modeled after the Weiss firm’s complaint.  Now these firms seek to take control of the entire litigation and exclude the attorneys at the Weiss firm from participating in the executive committee appointed to manage how the plaintiffs are to conduct this litigation.  In a naked grab for power, these large firms that sat on the sidelines for over a year while the Weiss attorneys stood up for consumers and demanded that full disclosure be made, have taken over the litigation and appointed themselves to be on this important committee by refusing to allow the Weiss firm to have a say on how they believe their clients should be protected.  The Weiss attorneys want to make sure that no one attempts to effect a quick fix settlement that might not be in the best interest of consumers.  These attorneys are forced to make an application to the federal Judge appointed to oversee these cases, to plead for a place at the managing committee’s table.

If you believe the Weiss firm will protect your interests as a consumer and ensure that all parents who were never told about a potentially toxic product capable of causing catastrophic injuries to your children, then go to RightsforAmerica.com and give them your support by submitting your name on their Petition which will be presented to the court in support of their application to be included on the executive committee.  Your support will help ensure that the large law firms do not put their own interests above those of America’s consumers.  Should you have any questions or wish to speak to one of the Weiss firm’s attorneys for additional information on BPA, or how you can become involved in their lawsuit, you can find their information on their website at the link listed above.

(YWN Desk – NYC)