According to news sources, the company E&B Giftware has reached a settlement agreement with The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in which the former has agreed to pay a civil penalty totaling $550,000 for failing to report a defective fitness ball product.
The company subsidiary, EB Brands, reportedly knew of about 25 incidents starting in 2007 that were related to its defective fitness balls. The fitness balls would reportedly burst when overinflated by a consumer, posing a potential bruise and injury hazard. Only by October 2008 did the company report the incidents to the CPSC, with the total number of incidents by then reaching 44 cases, with some resulting in injuries to consumers.
The defective product was recalled from the market in April 2009, with the company selling about three million of the fitness balls in the period between March 2000 through February 2009.
Companies are required under federal law to report any information pertaining to a defective product to the CPSC within 24 hours of acquiring the information.
As a Los Angeles personal injury attorney, I understand the inherent dangers of defective products and the risks they entail. I hope this information can help raise awareness about this recalled product and keep consumers safe. If you or a loved one has been injured through the use or consumption of a defective product, speak with a Los Angeles product liability lawyer to learn about the legal options available to you.
