LG Wireless Phone

Can I sue LG for Contact Dermatitis caused by their Cell Phone?

I have had LG cell phone for a few months. After using it for a few weeks, I noticed very large red and itchy area on my left cheek. I did not know what the cause was at the time, and when I went to see a dermatologist, he told me that it is possible that I might be allergic to my cell phone. I did not think that was the problem at that time, and I was treated with medicine injection into my affected area. Symptom had dramatically improved, and then it recurred after a while. I did some research and found out that the nickel used in certain cell phone exterior could cause contact dermatitis, and my LG KG800 Chocolate phone has the nickel-plated navigation bar which makes direct contact with my cheek when using the phone. As the air got very dry into the autumn, the irritation became so much worse that I had to temporarily leave my graduate school. That's where I am right now. I have withdrawn from school work to seek medical help, and I am extremely depressed as I stopped meeting people because of my condition. I would like to ask why LG did not warn about the possible harm of nickel-induced dermatitis. There are many reported cases on line who had same symptoms as mine. I would like to hear any thoughts or opinions as to how I could be compensated, if possible. Thank you.

Public Comments

1. uh...I don't believe anyone wins a lawsuit based on an allergic reaction to a product like a phone. Just my opinion.
2. I would contact a good law firm to ask. Don't depend on us barracks lawyers in YA.
3. You can sue anyone or any company for anything, but it's doubtful that you'd win unless a lot of you joined together.
4. Only if I can sue my parents for giving me excema. You can't be compensated, they did nothing illegal. That is like saying I am allergic to peanuts and didn't know about it, but when I found out I sued them for allowing me to eat peanuts.
5. Contact dermatitis does not have to be an allergic reaction and you would have to prove that it was unique to that brand. It is not unique to that brand and it does not even require use of the phone. I used to carry a nextel for my construction business and would routinely have flare-ups one my hip where I carried it, but never on my face where I used it. Go hands free and don't tie up the courts on such a trivial frivolous law suit. Even if you did win they will just raise rates and fees to cover the cost.
6. Whenever you say "there are many reported cases," you actually diminish your chances of winning said lawsuit. Why? Because "it's a well known fact" has been used as a defense. If "everyone" knows it, then what was your excuse for not ceasing to use the phone when you discovered that you had a sensitivity to it? I know, doesn't seem right. But this is commonly used in tobacco litigation: everyone knows the smoking will kill you, so it's your responsibility to stop smoking. I have lactose intolerance. But I can't sue the dairy industry. Well, I could (and so can you), but I wouldn't win. Sorry for the fact that this got so bad that you needed to drop out of school and are depressed. I presume that you stopped using the phone as soon your doctor said this was the problem? If you continued to use the phone after that, then... why? Clearly, your health and welfare have suffered to the point that it would have been well worth it to throw the phone away.
7. No, when your dermatologist told you that you may be allergic you should have gotten yourself a different phone. Any problems you had after that are your own fault, you continued to use a phone that you knew caused you a health problem.
8. An allergic reaction is not actionable. LG has done nothing negligent or wrong, the simply marketed a product which you have a sensitivity to. You cannot sue over an allergy. Get yourself a hands free set.
9. So basically you've got an allergy to Nickel? I very much doubt that LG will provide any sort of compensation for that. It's like going into a restaurant, eating the seafood platter, and realizing later that you are actually allergic to prawns. Lots of people are allergic to prawns, but that isn't going to stop them from offering them. And they aren't going to refund you, because they didn't make you eat the prawns! In this analogy, Prawns=Nickel Plated Cell phone button. Recommendation: Stop eating the Prawns and find a different type of seafood to eat (ie. Get a new phone)!