The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission continues to escalate its enforcement efforts. Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the CPSC, filed suit against Spectrum Brands Inc. See United States v. Spectrum Brands, No. 3:15-cv-00371 (W.D. Wisc.). This is the CPSC’s second enforcement lawsuit filed in 2015, yet another year that will likely set records for CPSC penalties.
The complaint alleges that Spectrum not only failed to comply with CPSC reporting requirements, but also allowed hundreds of defective coffeemakers to be sold after a 2012 recall of the products. The CPSC seeks both civil penalties and injunctive relief. While Spectrum has indicated that it will “vigorously defend itself” in this matter, this CPSC-backed lawsuit should be viewed as a warning to similarly situated companies deciding whether or not to report products containing potential hazards.
Originally published on Law360.com on July 8, 2015.
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