Baby's Death Spurs Product Defect Recall Involving Simplicity Cribs
The death of an 8-month-old baby has led to yet another defective product recall involving 400,000 Simplicity cribs. According to an Associated Press news report, Simplicity Inc. is recalling the defective cribs, which put babies at risk of death by suffocation. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which issued an alert to consumers, said those who own these cribs should stop using them immediately and look for an alternative sleeping arrangement for their infants. The 8-month-old baby in Houston, Texas, died when it got stuck between the mattress and the defective drop-down side of the crib.
According to CPSC officials, the plastic hardware on these defective cribs can break or deform causing the drop side to detach and create a gap where infants can get trapped. CPSC has so far received 25 reports of the drop side detaching. The cribs were reportedly sold at department stores, children's stores and other retailers nationwide from January 2005 to June 2009 and cost between $150 and $300. CPSC is asking that consumers return the cribs to the store where they were bought.
My heart goes out to the family of the 8-month-old baby that died as a result of this defective product. I offer my deepest condolences to the parents of this child.
Over the last year, more than 1 million Simplicity cribs have been recalled for identical product defects. Several children – infants and toddlers – have serious personal injury as a result of these defective cribs. Most of the defects involve the drop side detaching and creating an entrapment hazard for the children. Product liability lawsuits have been piling up against the company and according to the AP news report, the company itself is near defunct and is not conducting day-to-day operations.
Simplicity's case and the tragedies caused by these defective cribs should not be forgotten. This is a lesson not only for product manufacturers, but also for our federal officials, who are still struggling with enforcement of federal safety standards when it comes to imported products. Product manufacturers are unable to control quality when products are manufactured in other countries and it has, as evident in this case, a lethal effect on American consumers. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed as a result of a defective product, please consult an experienced products liability attorney who can give you more information about your legal rights and options.
