FYI Invacare wheelchairs recall

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Fires, deaths are linked to Invacare wheelchairs

09/01/02

Becky Gaylord

Plain Dealer Reporter - Cleveland, Ohio

[Read Invacare's Press Release on Recall]

The world's largest maker of battery-operated wheelchairs, Invacare Corp.,

settled a lawsuit last month for more than $7 million after defective wiring

on one of its wheelchairs sparked and caught fire, badly burning a

65-year-old quadriplegic woman. It was the latest lawsuit the Elyria company

has faced - including three others that involved deaths - linked to the

chair's battery-charging system. The flaw is also the source of an ongoing

recall of the wheelchairs that Invacare quietly began in April 2000.

But the company didn't begin the recall until years after reports surfaced

that some of its wheelchairs were igniting, causing deaths and injuries, and

it found itself in the midst of lawsuits.

More at...

http://www.wccd.org/

Kat

Seattle USA

http://www.icewindow.com

KathleenLS@...