The New York Times reports that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has fined discount clothing retailer Ross $3.9 million for continuing to sell children’s clothing that had been deemed defective, despite warnings that such items could cause injury or death. The fine is the second largest in the history of the CPSC.
The substantial penalty comes on the heels of an earlier fine, in the amount of $500,000, that Ross incurred for the same infraction; a law passed by Congress in 2008 allowed the CPSC to increase penalties, leading the agency to strengthen its efforts to take companies to task for failing to report defective products.
According to the report, the defective clothing items in question are children’s jackets and sweatshirts featuring drawstrings around the neck or waist. Since 1985, the commission has received 84 reports of children injured by clothing with drawstrings, including more than two dozen deaths. There have been no reported injuries or deaths related to the jackets and sweatshirts sold at Ross.
If your child has been harmed by a defective clothing product, contact the experienced legal experts at Hodes Milman.
