Government Agency and Manufacturer Issue Recall for Fisher-Price Infant Recliners
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning to consumers that Fisher-Price’s Rock-and-Play infant recliner will need to be recalled due to a serious health hazard – mold.
After receiving complaints, and a warning from the CPSC, Fisher-Price will voluntarily recall the infant recliners.
800,000 infant recliner seats sold both in stores and online since September 2009 are being recalled. The recalled infant recliners are specifically the model called Rock-and-Play, which sold for between $50 and $85. The seats were designed for babies up to 25 pounds.
According to the manufacturer, mold can develop between the removable seat cushion and hard plastic frame, especially if the infant recliner gets wet or is infrequently cleaned. Mold can cause respiratory issues and infections. Fisher-Price has received 600 reports of mold, and 16 infants that have been in the Rock-and-Play infant recliner have developed respiratory issues, coughs, and hives after using the sleepers.
The CPSC says that consumers should check for dark brown, gray, or black spots in the affected areas, which can indicate mold growth. If mold has started growing in the infant recliner, the CPSC says consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact Fisher-Price for cleaning instructions and assistance. They can be reached at 800-432-5437, or consumers can visithttp://www.service.mattel.com.
Units currently on sale are not affected by the recall, as mold is not a problem on infant recliners just out of the box. But, consumers should be aware that mold growth can occur after the infant recliners are in use, especially if the recliners get wet or are not cleaned.
Dangerous Products like Some Models of Infant Recliners Can Lead to Recalls and Lawsuits
A product can be unreasonably dangerous because of a design defect. In the case of the Fisher-Price Rock-and-Play infant recliners, the design defect occurred because of a removable seat, and was not noticed until some users were harmed by the problem.
Generally, to determine whether the product is unreasonably dangerous, states use some variation of a balancing test. The balancing test weights the utility of the product against the danger that it poses. In most cases, the plaintiff will offer proof of a “safer alternative design” that the manufacturer could have used which would have prevented the injury. The court will use the balancing test to weigh the feasibility of a “safer alternative design,” the cost and availability of safety features and the extent such modifications would diminish the product’s effectiveness.
Defective products such as the Fisher-Price infant recliners too often go unspotted until it is too late.
These products end up on the market for a variety of reasons, including:
- Defective manufacturing
- Inadequate testing
- Design defects
- Marketing Misrepresentation
Every year, thousands of consumers sustain serious injuries from common household products that are defective. These goods usually seem harmless until an injury or illness occurs. The FDA and the CPSC do their best to keep up on recalls, but it is important for consumers to be pro-active with their products as well.
If You Have Been Harmed by a Defective Product, Like an Infant Recliner, The Strom Law Firm can Help
The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm are based in Columbia, South Carolina, and are licensed to practice in South Carolina, Georgia, and New York. Founded 16 years ago by Pete Strom, a former US Attorney for the District of South Carolina, our lawyers collectively have over 30 years of experience with complicated legal issues. If you or a loved one have been harmed by a defective product, such as the Fisher-Price infant recliners, whether or not the product has been recalled, you may be entitled to compensation.We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so do not hesitate to contact us. 803.252.4800.
