National Department Store Agrees to $3.9 Million Penalty | Defective Product Lawyer

by Daniel J. O'Brien [email protected]

*For immediate release

Last week, Ross Stores agreed to a multi-million dollar penalty. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Ross knowingly failed to report that it either sold or held for sale over 20,000 children’s garments with drawstrings at the neck or waist.

Prior Penalty for the Same or Similar Issue – Children’s Garments with Drawstrings

In 2006, the CPSC issued a statement declaring that children’s clothing with drawstrings at the hood or neck posed a serious risk of injury to children and were therefore defective. In 2009, Ross paid a $500,000 penalty to settle CPSC allegations that Ross failed to report distribution of children’s clothing with drawstrings. (Source: CPSC.gov, "Ross Stores Agrees to $3.9 Million Civil Penalty, Internal Compliance Improvements for Failure")

As part of the settlement, Ross agreed to implement an internal compliance program to ensure compliance with reporting requirements the Consumer Product Safety Act (relating to mandatory reporting of defective products). Ross also agreed to ensure written policies and procedures, whistle-blower protections, and employee training on those policies.

Suggested news: Children's Beds Recalled Due to Fall Hazard

In agreeing to the recent $3.9 million dollar settlement, Ross denied CPSC charges. In addition, there were no reports of injuries associated with the recalled children’s garments at issue.

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Products liability cases are complicated and experts are often needed to examine the design or manufacturing defects in the product.

If you were injured by a defective product, it is important you keep the product so that it can be inspected by qualified products liability experts.  If you would like to know if you have a right to recovery, contact the Philadelphia, PA and NJ products liability lawyers at White and Williams LLP for a free initial, no obligation consultation @ 877.944.8396.

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