Legal news for Pennsylvania product liability lawyers.

Feds recall defective Simplicity cribs after baby suffocates to death.

Pittsburgh, PA–Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc., participated in a voluntary recall of approximately 400,000 units of Simplicity Drop Side Cribs. Simplicity and SFCA are located in Reading, Pennsylvania. The recall was issued after the companies discovered the cribs pose a suffocation hazard. The crib’s hardware is made out of plastic. When the plastic breaks or deforms, the drop side detaches, allowing space in between the drop side and the mattress. Suffocation can occur when babies and toddlers get stuck after falling into the space. Federal regulators with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall on July 2, 2009.

A full list of model numbers and descriptions of the cribs under federal recall can be found at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09260.html. There has been 1 reported death related to the recalled baby crib. An 8-month old baby in Houston, Texas suffocated after being trapped in the space between the drop side and crib mattress. 25 incidents of the drop side detaching from the crib have been reported. Of the 25 incidents, 2 were cases involving children becoming entrapped in the space between the drop side and mattress. No injuries related to the recalled product have been reported.

The recalled baby cribs were made in China. The cribs retailed for approximately $150 to $300 in department stores, children’s stores, and mass merchandisers across the country. The recalled items were available for purchase during January 2005 through June 2009. The Berks County firm urges consumers to stop using the recalled Simplicity Drop Side Cribs. A full refund, replacement crib, or store credit is available at the place of purchase.

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