A California court ordered Sheng Hsiang Jen (
San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Mark Forcum today said Sheng Hsiang Jen was responsible for the death of Jeffrey Jing(景樂樂), a Massachusetts toddler who choked on a fruit-flavored gel candy in February 2001. He died days later.
The award follows a trial in the US last month in which a jury in San Jose, California, ordered Sheng Hsiang Jen to pay the family of Michelle Enrile US$16.7 million after the eight-year-old girl's death. The US Food and Drug Administration in 2001 asked about 20 makers to recall gel candies from stores.
Mike Danko, who represented the Jing family, said Forcum was sending a message that the candy was dangerous. Major retailers "have stopped stocking this candy but thousands of mom and pop grocery stores are still stocking," Danko said.
Frank Revere, who represented Sheng Hsiang in the Enrile case, didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
The Jings won the case in a default judgment and attorneys for Sheng Hsiang didn't make an appearance in court today, according to Danko.
Danko said Jeffrey choked on a lichee candy, one of the most popular flavors. The gel candies were sold under such names as Fruit Poppers, Gel-ly Drop and Jelly Yum. The candies pose a choking hazard because they contain konjac, which helps foods hold shape, texture and firmness.
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
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DEFENDING FREEDOM: Taiwanese love peace and helping others, and hope to be a positive force in the world, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim told ‘Weltspiegel’ Taiwan is making every effort to prevent war in the face of China’s hybrid coercion tactics and military threats, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said in an interview with German public broadcaster ARD’s program Weltspiegel that aired on Monday. Taiwan is not seeking provocation or intending to disrupt international order, but “must possess the capacity for self-defense,” a news release issued by the Presidential Office yesterday quoted her as saying. Taiwan is closely watching not only the increasing scope and frequency of Chinese military exercises around the nation, but also Beijing’s hybrid and cognitive warfare tactics, including manipulating public opinion, fostering
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