WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today the filing of a lawsuit against Ardisam Inc., of
Cumberland, Wis., in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of
Wisconsin. The lawsuit alleges that Ardisam failed to report in a timely
manner, as required by federal law, serious injuries with the Big Foot
and Lite Foot Series hunting tree stands. In July 2004, these tree
stands were the subject of a recall.
The lawsuit alleges that Ardisam received incident information beginning
in April 2000 that the tree stands unexpectedly detached from trees,
resulting in broken bones and other serious injuries to consumers. It is
alleged that the company failed to immediately inform CPSC of this
information as required by federal law. Ardisam finally reported
information to CPSC in May 2004.
"The law is clear - companies must immediately tell CPSC about products
that could pose a substantial risk or create an unreasonable risk of
serious injury or death" said CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. "The
quicker a company tells CPSC about a dangerous product, the quicker we
can work to protect the health and safety of consumers."
Under the Consumer Product Safety Act, manufacturers, distributors and
retailers are required to report to CPSC information about products that
could create a substantial risk of injury to the public or that create
an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting
the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more
than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents
cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed
to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire,
electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The
CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys,
cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals -
contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of
deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30
years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's
hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or
visit CPSC's web site at ww.cpsc.gov/talk.html.
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