After failing to report product defects and incidents of injury to the Consumer Product Safety Commission for years, Bad Boy Enterprises has agreed to pay a penalty settlement of $715,000, according to news sources.
CPSC has made allegations that Bad Boy Enterprises failed to report a defect in their Classic Buggies off-road utility vehicles that posed a safety hazard to consumers. The law requires that companies report defects or incidents within 24 hours.
The product included a motor that could suddenly and unexpectedly accelerate while the ignition was idle, resulting in over 50 incidents and several injuries. The product was sold between 2003 and June 2010 for about $10,000 at authorized dealerships.
The firm began a repair program for the issue in 2008, but it wasn’t until August 2009 that they reported the defect to the CPSC. The first recall was issued in October 2009. The aptly named Bad Boy Enterprises did not fully disclose the defect until May 2010. A second recall was announced in December 2010. Injuries that had been reported by that time included arm and leg fractures, a fractured toe, rotator cuff injury, and sore muscles.
As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, I’m glad to hear that the CPSC is holding this firm responsible for violating the law. Safety codes are in place for a reason. If you or someone you love has been injured by a dangerous consumer product, I advise you to contact a product liability lawyer to help you proceed legally.
