Tropitone Fined for Delay in Reporting Patio Furniture Defects that Injured Consumers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today that Tropitone Furniture Co. Inc., of Irvine, Calif., has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $750,000 to settle allegations that it violated the Consumer Product Safety Act by failing to report to CPSC in a timely manner defects associated with six models of its chaise lounge chairs. Tropitone reported to CPSC nearly 9 years after it first became aware of injuries from the chairs. The penalty also settles allegations that Tropitone violated the Act when it failed to timely report settlements of 30 lawsuits alleging injury to consumers from the chairs.

From June 1988 until March 1997, when the firm first reported to CPSC, Tropitone received more than 150 reports of injuries resulting from the use of these chaise lounge chairs. The chairs, manufactured from 1985 to 1992, have nylon ratchets supporting the adjustable headrest. The ratchets can break, causing the headrest to forcefully collapse. Consumers who reached behind the headrest to adjust its height suffered injuries when the ratchets failed and the headrest collapsed in a 'scissoring action' on their fingers. CPSC and Tropitone now have reports of 167 injuries from headrest collapse, including multiple fingertip or partial finger amputations; severe finger lacerations; fractured, crushed, and pinched fingers; back injury; and a skull fracture.

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Jay Rocher is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-home-decor.com. Home decorating tips and ideas to showcase any room with style.

	Patio Furniture
Tropitone Fined for Delay in Reporting Patio Furniture Defects that Injured Consumers