The House Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce (the “Subcommittee”) recently held a hearing on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) budget, which was cut by $1.525 million from Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 to...more
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced on July 30, 2024, that it issued a Decision and Order against Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon). CPCS states that, in a unanimous vote, it “determined that Amazon was a...more
This month, the government is asking for a pair of 10-year prison sentences for two Gree USA Inc. executives convicted of failing to report defective humidifiers. This comes after the two were found guilty of conspiracy to...more
In November 2023, a jury convicted two corporate executives of conspiracy and failure to report information about defective residential dehumidifiers as required by the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). The jury verdict is...more
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has long focused on consumer products that pose unique risks to children, especially products in the home like clothing storage and window coverings; this emphasis has only...more
On January 5, 2023, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported Peloton agreed to pay a $19,065,000 civil penalty as a settlement regarding its Tread+ treadmill, approximately a year and a half after the CPSC and...more
On May 16, President Biden signed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act into law, less than two weeks after being passed by Congress. The Act addresses the controversy around inclined sleepers and crib bumpers for infants by banning...more
As rough holidays rumble into Americans’ lives, federal lawmakers and regulators seem to be going out of their way to be of disservice to constituents — by quietly skipping crucial inspections of imported toys and other...more
The rapidly developing technology of interconnected software allows consumers to reach new heights of convenience and efficiency. We can start our dinner remotely, listen to our music in every room in the house, track and log...more
A precedent-setting criminal prosecution of two California executives under the Consumer Product Safety Act is sending a strong warning to corporate boardrooms that the reporting requirements of the CPSA must be taken...more
The conventional advice to manufacturers and retailers of consumer products when assessing a potential product safety issue is typically as follows: “When in doubt, report.” And while it is still generally good advice to err...more
On May 9, 2019, the 7th Circuit upheld the government’s Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) claims against Spectrum Brands, Inc. stemming from its failure to immediately notify the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of...more
The Consumer Product Safety Act requires manufacturers, importers, and distributors of consumer products to report hazardous defects. Failure to comply can subject the individual officers and employees to criminal penalties. ...more
On Friday, October 5, 2018, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) announced that Costco Wholesale, Corp. (Costco) entered into a settlement agreement with the CPSC to pay a $3.85 million civil penalty for its...more
Last Friday, the CPSC voted to sue Britax Child Safety, Inc. to force the company to recall various models of single and double B.O.B. jogging strollers. The one-count administrative complaint alleges that the strollers...more
A federal district court in Wisconsin recently hit Spectrum Brands Inc. (Spectrum) with civil penalties of $1.9 million for violations of the Consumer Products Safety Act (CPSA). The court’s 23-page opinion is a strong...more
Over the past few weeks, there have been many key goings-on related to the CPSC and its Commissioners....more
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is set to announce yet another civil penalty settlement. Sunbeam Products d/b/a Jarden Consumer Solutions (Sunbeam or the Company) has agreed to pay a $4.5 million civil...more
Hoverboards have skyrocketed as a top gift this holiday season, dominating retail shelves and website banners. Many manufacturers make the products, at a range of price points. If your company is selling these Segway-esque...more
At the very beginning of this year, we wrote that we expected the CPSC to remain active in bringing enforcement actions against companies for violations of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). About one month later, CPSC...more
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) continues to escalate its enforcement efforts. Last week, the United States Department of Justice, on behalf of CPSC, filed suit against Spectrum Brands, Inc....more
On Wednesday of last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that a complaint has been filed in federal court against Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum). Notably, this is...more