FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2000
Release # 00-085
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: William J. Moore, Jr., (301) 504-7583
Hasbro Pays $400,000 Civil Penalty for Delay in Reporting Infant Carrier
Defect
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
announced today that Hasbro Inc., of Pawtucket, R.I., paid a $400,000
civil penalty to settle allegations that it violated the Consumer
Product Safety Act by failing to timely report defects with its
"PLAYSKOOL baby FOLD'N TRAVEL" infant carriers. Playskool Baby is a
division of Hasbro.
CPSC alleges that Hasbro failed to report in a timely manner that
the carrier's handle locking mechanism could fail, causing the seat to
flip forward and infants to fall to the ground. Hasbro received nine
injury reports, including seven serious head injuries, before it
reported to CPSC. In agreeing to settle this matter, Hasbro denies that
the product contained a defect and that Hasbro violated any law.
About 38,500 of these carriers were sold nationwide from 1991 to
June 1993 for approximately $35. The infant carrier has a sleeping,
sitting and rocking position and a handle for carrying baby out and
about. Each carrier has the words "PLAYSKOOL baby FOLD'N TRAVEL" on a
label where the handle connects to the seat.
Hasbro recalled the "PLAYSKOOL baby FOLD'N TRAVEL" carriers in
1996. Consumers still can participate in the recall by calling Hasbro
toll-free at (800) 752-9755 anytime to receive a full $35 refund.
