The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 77,000 electric baseboard and fan heater thermostats imported by Honeywell International Inc. The agency reported that the thermostats can overheat and begin to smoke and burn. There have been 16 reports of the thermostats melting but no injuries occurred.

A U.S. Army reservist in Iowa has filed a lawsuit against the city of Altoona, Iowa, after he was acquitted of a 2005 hit-and-run murder in a local Lowes parking lot. The lawsuit accused police officers of “unilaterally excluding hundreds of other vehicles that more nearly matched the description of the vehicle that purportedly struck decedent” during their investigation. The plaintiff claims he was arrested without probable cause and that his arrest caused “humiliation, anxiety, loss of sleep, severe mental and emotional distress, legal bills and ‘exposure to public hatred, contempt and ridicule’.”

The city of San Diego has agreed to a $500,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed over an off-duty police shooting of a young boy in 2008. The boy was shot once in the leg during a “road rage” altercation between his mother, who had been driving drunk, and an off-duty officer. The lawsuit was filed by the boy’s father, who was stationed in Iraq at the time of the incident.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 40,000 pressure washer surface cleaner attachments sold at the Home Depot. Manufactured by Homelite, the agency said the attachments “can break at the nozzle and potentially strike a consumer.” There have been nine reports of the attachments breaking, including one laceration injury.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of about 800 Uvex Funride ski helmets that do no adequately protect the user’s head. The company said that the helmets provide “insufficient shock absorption and resistance to penetration.” The helmets were sold at independent ski shops across the country between January 2009 and April 2011.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 13,000 Circo Children’s Task Lamps due to the risk of overheating. Sold at Target, the agency said the lamps may overheat, causing parts inside the lamp socket to melt and adhere to the bulb. Target has received six reports of parts melting, but no injuries have occurred.

A New York woman will receive $125,000 from the city of New York after she accused a New York City police officer of denying her insulin. According to the suit, the woman was arrested and jailed for 19 hours for smoking marijuana. While jailed, the officer refused to give the plaintiff her insulin, causing her blood sugar to reach dangerously high levels and nearly killing her.

A New York appeals court has ruled that a lawsuit against the state over a capsized tour boat that killed 20 passengers in 2005 can proceed. The suit, filed by the survivors and family members of victims, claims that officials with the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation determined the boat could hold 48 people, when in fact is should not have held more than 14. The court ruled that the state could not seek sovereign immunity “because its employees showed no discretion during its annual inspections.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 375,000 shock-absorbing climbing lanyards due to a defect in the product that can present a fall risk to users. Imported by Petzl America Inc., the agency reported that a safety stitch is missing from some of the lanyards, which could cause them to disconnect from the climbing harness during use. There have been no reported injuries in the U.S., but customers are encouraged to contact the manufacturer for replacement products.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 13 million oscillating ceramic heaters imported by Meijer Inc. The agency reported that the oscillating mechanism inside the heater can short out, posing a fire risk. There have been two reports of fires that caused property damage, but no injuries have occurred.