Yourlawyer.com (Simplicity Graco Crib Recall News)

Deadly Simplicity Bassinets Tied to More Deaths

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Two more infants have died in defective Simplicity bassinets, prompting the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to re-announce a year-old recall for the dangerous beds.

Roughly 900,000 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible “Close-Sleeper” Models Simplicity bassinets were recalled last August, after they had been implicated in the death of six-month old girl in Kansas that occurred that month, as well as a fatality involving a 4-month-old Missouri girl that occurred the previous September.

According to the CPSC, the recalled Simplicity bassinets contain metal bars paced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, the maximum distance allowed under federal crib safety standards. These metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap secured by Velcro© fasteners, which are intended to be partially removed when the bassinet is converted into the bedside/close-sleeper mode. If the Velcro© fasteners are not properly re-secured when the fabric flap is adjusted, or if the consumer entirely removes the fabric flap exposing the metal bars, an infant can slip through the opening between the lower metal bar and the mattress support and become entrapped and suffocate or strangle.

According to today's notice, the CPSC has learned that in September 2008, a two-month old Georgia girl suffocated when she rolled into the adjustable fabric siding of the bassinet, pressing her face into a "pocket" which formed near the Velcro© fasteners. In another incident in January 2009, a six-month old female Texas girl appears to have been fatally entrapped in the bassinet’s bar opening created when the Velcro© fasteners were not secured. An investigation into this infant’s death is ongoing. In addition, the CPSC has received two separate reports involving a 10-week old and a 3-month old whose heads became entrapped between the lower bassinet bar and the mattress support. The infants were freed by their caregivers without injury.

Consumers are urged to check their bassinets to ensure they are not using one of the recalled Simplicity bassinets.. Bassinets manufactured prior to the 21st week of 2008, “2108” (before May 18) are recalled. The model numbers for recalled bassinets manufactured prior to “2108” are: 3000; 3010; 3011; 3012; 3013; 3014; 3015; 3016; 3017; 3020; 3025; 3026; 3027; 3030; 3040; 3045; 3046; 3047; 3050; 3060; 3070; 3111; 3112; 343-8363; 343-8399; 5730; 5750; 8383; 9250; TD2500.

According to the CPSC, SFCA Inc., the Reading, Pa.-based company that purchased the assets of Simplicity Inc. after foreclosure, no longer appears to be conducting day to day operations. SFCA Inc. is no longer answering phone calls or responding to e-mails from consumers. As such, several retailers have agreed to conduct this recall and provide a refund or store credit to consumers who return the product to the store where purchased. A complete list of those retailers is available here.

Simplicity Drop Side Crib Blamed for Child's Death, Another Recall Issued

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

More Simplicity Drop Side Cribs have been recalled, following the death of an infant. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby.

This recall involves 400,000 Simplicity Drop Side Cribs made by Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc. of Reading, Pa. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the firms appear to no longer conduct day to day operations. Simplicity has been the subject of massive crib recalls in the past. In September 2007, a recall notice was issued for 1 million Simplicity and Graco cribs because a flaw in the design of the cribs allowed parents to install the drop rail upside down. Two children died in those faulty cribs before they were finally recalled. The Simplicity Drop Side Crib recall was expanded in April 2009 to include another 600,000 cribs.

This recall involves all drop side cribs with a different or “newer” style of plastic hardware from those cribs recalled in 2007. This newer style of Simplicity hardware can be identified by a flexible plastic tab at the top of the lower tracks. The recalled model numbers include but may not be limited to: 8050, 8325, 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8765, 8778, 8810, and 8994, 8995, 8996. The recalled Simplicity cribs were sold in department stores, children’s stores, and mass merchandisers nationwide from January 2005 through June 2009 for between $150 and $300. Consumers should immediately return the Simplicity crib to the place of purchase for a refund, replacement or store credit.

The CPSC said it was aware of one death involving an 8-month-old child from Houston, Texas who became entrapped and suffocated between the drop side and the crib mattress when a plastic connector on the drop side broke. The agency said it was also is aware of an additional 25 incidents involving the drop side detaching from the crib. In six of these incidents, the drop side detached because the plastic flexible tab deformed or broke. In four of the drop side detachment incidents, other plastic parts, including connectors or tracks, deformed or broke. In two of the incidents, two children became entrapped between the drop side and the crib mattress. There were no reported injuries.

Drop side cribs have proven dangerous over the years, and many other brands have been recalled in addition to Simplicity. Drop-side cribs are popular because they allow caregivers to easily access the beds. Unfortunately, poor design, poorly written assembly directions, or broken pieces can all cause the side rail to fall unexpectedly, or separate from the rest of the bed, creating an entrapment hazard.

In March, we reported that major crib manufacturers have signed on to a proposal that would ban drop side cribs in the U.S. Proposed new rules would require that all four sides of the crib be rigidly attached to one another. That eliminates the moving parts that have broken loose and created entrapment hazards. A small portion of the top of a crib railing would be allowed to fold down, so that people who need it would still have easier access to the crib. According to the Chicago Tribune, the proposal was approved in March at a meeting of ASTM International, a standards organization. The proposal now goes to a broader group of ASTM members for a vote.

At least one retailer, Toys 'R Us has already decided to phase out drop side cribs, and has quit ordering the beds from manufacturers.

Toys 'R Us to Stop Selling Dangerous Drop-Side Cribs

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Concerns over dangerous drop-side cribs have prompted Toys 'R Us to stop ordering them. According to The Wall Street Journal, the decision the retailer announced yesterday follows an agreement last month by some crib makers to support a proposed ban on drop-side cribs.

Drop-side cribs are popular because they allow caregivers to easily access the beds. But as anyone who reads this site knows, drop-side cribs have been the subject of numerous recalls, many of which occurred after children were injured - and in some cases killed - because of defective cribs. In many cases, problems with drop-side cribs occur when hardware fails. The problem is exacerbated because most families use a crib for more than one child. The older the crib, the more likely it is that hardware will wear out and fail.

According to the Journal, there have been 21 recalls of 4.2 million cribs over the past two years because of hazardous defects. Recalled cribs have been implicated in five deaths, and there have been 16 incidents where children became trapped in parts of the beds. In many cases, the Journal said, these problems have involved drop-side cribs. What's more, nearly every recalled crib - even those involved in fatalities - had met current safety standards.

As we reported last month, at a meeting of the standards organization ASTM International, major crib manufacturers signed on to a proposal that would ban drop-side cribs in the U.S. Proposed new rules would require that all four sides of the crib be rigidly attached to one another. Such a design eliminates the moving parts that have broken loose and created entrapment hazards. The regulations would allow a small portion of the top of a crib railing to fold down, so that people who need it would still have easier access to the crib.

Unfortunately, according to The Wall Street Journal, even if the proposal is adopted, ASTM doesn't have enforcement powers. And in the best case scenario, the a ban could take a year to become effective and would likely apply only to newly made cribs.

Meanwhile, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) is scheduled to meet today with consumer advocates, crib makers and others to discuss ways the government could better assure crib safety.

Toys 'R Us is apparently not willing to wait for the industry or the CPSC to act. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the company's Chairman and Chief Executive Jerry Storch said Toys 'R Us is now moving to phase out drop-side cribs. He added that the current economic conditions could be encouraging more consumers to hold on to their cribs, making hardware failures more likely.

"It adds in an element of risk that we don't want to take, particularly over time," Storch said. "It seems that the strongest cribs are ones where the four sides attach to each other and have less complicated hardware."

Dangerous Drop-Side Cribs May be Banned

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Concerns over infant deaths and injuries have sparked a call to ban drop-side cribs. According to The Chicago Tribune, the call is coming from crib manufacturers themselves.

Drop-side cribs are popular because they allow caregivers to easily access the beds. But as anyone who reads this site knows, drop-side cribs have been the subject of numerous recalls, many of which occurred after children were injured - and in some cases killed - because of defective cribs.

Poor design, poorly written assembly directions, or broken pieces can all cause the side rail to fall unexpectedly, or separate from the rest of the bed, creating an entrapment hazard. These types of problems have resulted in a series of recalls:

Last October, Delta Enterprises announced it was recalling for repair 1.6 million drop-side cribs for strangulation and entrapment hazards after they were implicated in the deaths of two 8-month old infants.
Just a week earlier, Playkids USA of Brooklyn, New York recalled 2000 portable cribs following the death of a 5-month-old child. The baby suffocated to death last August after becoming entrapped between the mattress and the drop-side rail of the convertible crib.
Also last August, dozens of retailers recalled defective Simplicity bassinets that were implicated in the deaths of two children. Again, the drop-side rail on the beds was prone to coming off, creating a gap where infants and toddlers could become trapped and be strangled. Just a month later, 600,000 Simplicity cribs, including the Aspen and Crib N Changer Combo, Gabrielle, Camille, Providence and Shenandoah models, were recalled for a similar defect.
In August 2007, a recall notice was issued for 1.2 million Simplicity and Graco cribs because a flaw in the design of the cribs allowed parents to install the drop rail upside down. Three children died in those faulty cribs before they were finally recalled.

According to the Chicago Tribune, major crib manufacturers have signed on to a proposal that would ban drop-side cribs in the U.S. Proposed new rules would require that all four sides of the crib be rigidly attached to one another. That eliminates the moving parts that have broken loose and created entrapment hazards, the Tribune said. A small portion of the top of a crib railing would be allowed to fold down, so that people who need it would still have easier access to the crib.

The Tribune is reporting that the proposal was approved on Tuesday, at a meeting of ASTM International, a standards organization. The proposal now goes to a broader group of ASTM members for a vote.

It could take months for the proposal to be adopted, and if it is, the standards would be strictly voluntary. But the fact that so many major crib manufacturers and retailers support it is an encouraging sign, the Chicago Tribune said.

Defective Cribs Can Endanger Children Even After a Recall

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Crib recalls are occurring with increasing frequency. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 3 million dangerously defective cribs have been recalled in just the past two years. Unfortunately, many of the those faulty cribs weren't recalled until they had killed children.

In many instances, when a crib is recalled, consumers are told to contact the manufacturer to obtain a kit that is meant to fix a defect. That solution is controversial with many consumer advocates who believe defective cribs should be removed from the market altogether. Now, a Chicago Tribune investigation has found that in at least one instance, a repair kit alone was not enough to make a recalled crib safe.

Last month, Delta Enterprises, Inc. issued a recall for 1.6 million defective cribs. At least 60,000 of those cribs were recalled because of defective spring pegs that could fail and create an entrapment hazard. The remaining cribs were recalled because of fears that beds that had been reassembled could be missing their safety pegs, which could also create an entrapment hazard. At the time, the CPSC said that the recalled cribs had been implicated in the deaths of two children.

The CPSC and Delta offered parents and caregivers free repair kits to fix both problems. But according to the Tribune's report, the cribs have other safety problems that have yet to be addressed by the CPSC or Delta.

In its own review of government documents, the Tribune found 19 instances were the mattress platform in a Delta crib collapsed, creating yet another entrapment hazard. According to the report, this sometimes happened because the cribs were incorrectly assembled. Assembly mistakes were common because the stabilizer bar that supports the mattress in Delta cribs looks normal even when it is installed upside down. And the manual that comes with the beds does not provide consumers with very clear assembly instructions, the Tribune said.

Delta told the Tribune that it is looking into the problem, but insists the cribs are safe when assembled correctly. But the Tribune's investigation disputes that assertion, as records indicated that not all mattress collapses could be tracked to improper assembly. In some cases reviewed by the paper, the cause was attributed to mechanical failure, including joint problems, caused by manufacturing defects. In one case, the problem was as simple as a joint that lacked sufficient glue.

As anyone who regularly reads this site knows, crib recalls are depressingly common. A week before the Delta recall, Playkids USA of Brooklyn, New York recalled 2000 portable cribs following the death of a 5-month-old child. The baby suffocated to death in August after becoming entrapped between the mattress and the drop side rail of the convertible crib.

In August, dozens of retailers recalled defective Simplicity bassinets that were implicated in the deaths of two children. In addition to the August bassinet recall, Simplicity recalled 1 million cribs in September 2007.

All of these recalls have involved defective hardware. According to the CPSC, cribs with drop sides are the type most likely to experience hardware problems.. These types of defects are often undetected by parents or caregivers and can worsen when the baby pushes or leans against the side of the crib. As we reported last month, the rash of recalls has prompted the CPSC to consider new rules governing cribs. If adopted, new mandatory rules would replaced current safety standards that are now only voluntary.

But it will take time for the CPSC to formulate and implement such rule changes. In the meantime, many parents might be wondering how they can insure that there child is safe in a crib. To help, the CPSC has issued the following advice to caregivers regarding crib safety:

Parents should not use any crib with missing, broken or loose parts.
Hardware should be inspected from time to time and tightened to keep the crib sturdy.
When using a drop side crib parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly on its track.
Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement. Any disengagement can create a gap and entrap a child.
Do not try to repair any side of the crib without manufacturer approved hardware or with tape, wire or rope.
Putting a broken side up against the wall does not solve the problem and can often make it worse.

Another Simplicity Crib Recall

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

More dangerous Simplicity cribs are being recalled by major retailers because of a strangulation hazard. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the defective Simplicity-brand cribs' drop side can come off, creating a gap where infants and toddlers can become trapped and be strangled. The CPSC is advising parents to immediately stop using the cribs and find alternative safe sleeping arrangements.

The recall involves 600,000 Simplicity cribs, including the Aspen and Crib N Changer Combo, Gabrielle, Camille, Providence and Shenandoah models. They were sold from January 2005 to August 2008. The recalled cribs can be identified by the model name, model numbers and date codes. The recalled model numbers include: 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8778, 8810, and 8994. The recalled drop side cribs have a date code, which can be found on a label on the headboard under the mattress support, which ends in 05DH, 05GB, 06DH, 06GB, 07DH or 07GB (examples: 1806 DH or 0507 GB). Only the brand name "Simplicity" can be seen on the label on the headboard.

The following retailers have agreed to recall the dangerous cribs and provide a refund or store credit to consumers who return the product to the store where purchased:

AAFES, of Dallas, Texas
Babies“R”Us, of Wayne, N.J.
Burlington Coat Factory/Baby Depot, of Burlington, N.J.
K’s Merchandise (out of business)
Meijer Distribution Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich.
Nebraska Furniture Mart, of Omaha, Neb.
ShopKo, of Green Bay, Wis.
Target, of Minneapolis, Minn.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc, of Bentonville, Ark.

According to the CPSC, the hardware included with the recalled Simplicity cribs has a sizing problem, which allows the drop side to come off the tracks. When the drop side detaches or partially detaches, it creates a hazardous gap, which can lead to infant entrapment and suffocation. The agency said it is aware of 9 incidents where this has occurred, but so far no injuries have been reported.

This latest crib recall comes nearly a month after 900,000 Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 bassinets were recalled because of a defect that killed two infants. Simplicity Inc. is now defunct, and its assets were purchased by SFCA, an affiliate of Blackstreet Capital, a Bethesda private-equity firm. SFCA continues to sell children's furniture under the Simplicity brand, but refused to cooperate with the August recall, claiming it wasn't legally responsible for Simplicity products manufactured prior to its acquisition. However, the CPSC did say that it SFCA "working with retailers to carry out this recall program."

Today's recall is the third Simplicity recall in the past year. In addition to the August bassinet recall, Simplicity recalled 1 million cribs in September 2007 because of problems with the drop side detaching. That recall was prompted by three deaths. That recall -- the largest crib recall in U.S. history -- is largely blamed for the demise of Simplicity Inc.

Simplicity Bassinet Recall Includes Graco, Winnie-the-Pooh Beds

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Last month's massive Simplicity bassinet recall included some sold under the Graco brand name, as well as "Winnie-the-Pooh" models licensed by Disney. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is now urging parents and caregivers to check their bassinets to make sure they are not included in the Simplicity bassinet recall. These defective bassinets have been implicated in the strangulation deaths of two infants.

The Simplicity bassinets with the Graco logo were sold between 2001 and 2004. The Simplicity bassinets with the “Winnie the Pooh” motif were sold between 2002 and 2008. All of the bassinets included in the recall contain metal bars that are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.

According to the CPSC, the Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1, Graco and Winnie-the-Pooh bassinets are being recalled by the following retailers:

Wal-Mart Stores.
Toys “R” Us
Kmart Corp.
Big Lots!
Target
J.C. Penney
AAFES
Amazon.com
Bed Bath & Beyond
Burlington Coat Factory
Buy Buy Baby
Chelsea&Scott LTD (One Step Ahead)
CSN Stores of Boston, MA
Fingerhut Direct Marketing
Frogs and Lily Pad
Kohl’s Department Stores
ShopKo Stores, Inc.
Sweet Pea Déco
USA Baby #47, Overland Park, KS
USA Baby #58, Brookfield, WI
USA Baby #136, Berlin, CT
USA Baby #141, Waipahu, HI
USA Baby #142, Virginia Beach, VA
USA Baby #147, Clovis, CA

The Simplicity Bassinet recall followed the death of a six-month old girl in Kansas last month. Police in Shawnee, Kansas said the baby became caught in the metal bars of a 4-in-1 Bassinet. As a result, she was strangled.

Last September, the same bassinet claimed the life of a 4-month-old Missouri girl. The infant had slipped out the side of the bassinet between a lower horizontal railing and her mattress, and had become trapped in a 4-inch gap between the railing and top of the mattress. The little girl’s death was ruled an “accidental positional asphyxiation.”

When the Missouri child died last fall, Simplicity was already in dire financial straits, owing to another massive crib recall it had issued earlier in the summer. With creditors circling, Simplicity sold its assets at auction two months later. According to The Washington Post, the assets were purchased by SFCA Inc., an affiliate of Blackstreet Capital, a Bethesda, Maryland private-equity fund with $88 million dollars under management. Under the deal, SFCA bought the right to sell products under the Simplicity brand but did not take legal responsibility for products made under its previous owners. So when the CPSC asked SFCA to recall the deadly bassinets, it refused.

Because of SFCA's refusal to issue a recall, the CPSC had to approach individual retailers and request that they recall the bassinets. The participating companies will provide a refund or store credit to consumers who return a recalled bassinet to the store where purchased.

More Retailers Recall Deadly Simplicity Bassinets; Company Still Not Issuing Recall

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The Associated Press is reporting that 11 additional retailers have recalled Simplicity bassinets, bringing the total to 17 retailers recalling the deadly infant beds. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that the 11 additional retailers are pulling the Simplicity bassinets because the products pose a strangulation hazard.  The recent 11 include AAFES, Amazon.com, Bed Bath & Beyond/BuyBuyBaby, Burlington Coat Factory, Chelsea & Scott (OneStepAhead), CSN Stores, Fingerhut Direct Marketing, Kohl’s Department Stores, ShopKo Stores Inc., Sweet Pea Decor, and six USA Baby stores.

As part of the recall process, retailers will provide a refund or store credit to consumer who return the defective Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets to the store of purchased, the CPSC said. Late last month, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Kmart, Big Lots, Target, and J.C. Penney all took the defective bassinets off their shelves. The massive bassinet recall affects nearly 900,000 and was prompted following the death of a six-month-old girl from Shawnee, Kansas who was strangled on August 21 when she became trapped between the bassinet's metal bars. In 2007, a four-month-old baby girl from Noel, Missouri, became trapped in the bassinet's metal bars and died. Simplicity bassinets have metal bars spaced farther apart than federal standards allow.

The Chicago Tribune is also reporting that Toys R Us Inc., one of the nation's largest nursery furniture retailers, is forcing crib makers to build sturdier products to avoid such potentially fatal hazards. The retailer points out that government and industry safety rules don't adequately protect children and is requiring implementation of stricter tests and design standards that crib makers have avoided for years. Toys R Us, which also owns Babies R Us, sells hundreds of thousands of cribs annually and is using its size and prestige to also specify the trees its suppliers can use, the way in which spindles are attached to crib railings, and the type of glue used in the manufacture of these products. Those manufacturers that do not follow the new rules will be unable to sell cribs in its stores.

Despite a recent law that gave the CPSC increased and new powers and despite that the CPSC had to ask retailers to recall the Simplicity Bassinets, the company that now owns Simplicity refused to recall the beds. When the Missouri baby died last fall, Simplicity was already in dire financial straits, owing to another massive crib recall it had issued earlier in the summer. With creditors circling, Simplicity sold its assets at auction two months later. According to The Washington Post, the assets were purchased by SFCA Inc., an affiliate of Blackstreet Capital, a Bethesda, Maryland private-equity fund with $88 million dollars under management. Under the deal, SFCA bought the right to sell products under the Simplicity brand but did not take legal responsibility for products made under its previous owners. So, when the CPSC asked SFCA to recall the deadly bassinets, it refused. Despite the legal loopholes that let SFCA off the hook, the CPSC could have issued the bassinet recall after the first death in Missouri; that death occurred months before Simplicity assets were sold. Such quick action might have also saved the little girl in Kansas who died last month. For some reason, the CPSC did nothing when it was informed of the baby’s death.

Loophole Made Simplicity Bassinet Recall Difficult

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Last week's Simplicity Bassinet recall highlights the difficulty often faced by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) efforts to get dangerous products off of the market. Despite a recent law that gave the agency new powers, the CPSC had to ask retailers to recall the Simplicity Bassinets - which killed two babies - because the company that now owns Simplicity refused to recall the beds.

The Simplicity Bassinet recall followed the death of a six-month old girl in Kansas last month. Police in Shawnee, Kansas said the baby became caught in the metal bars of a 4-in-1 Bassinet. As a result, she was strangled.

Last September, the same bassinet claimed the life of a 4-month-old Missouri girl. The infant had slipped out the side of the bassinet between a lower horizontal railing and her mattress, and had become trapped in a 4-inch gap between the railing and top of the mattress. The little girl’s death was ruled an “accidental positional asphyxiation.”

According to the CPSC, the bassinets contain metal bars paced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, the maximum distance allowed under federal crib safety standards. This defect poses a strangulation hazard. Parents and caregivers should stop using the Simplicity Bassinet immediately and return it to the store where purchased for a refund or store credit. Last week, the agency announced that several retailers, including Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us, Kmart, Big Lots, Target and J.C. Penney, have voluntary agreed to stop selling Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible “Close-Sleeper” model bassinets. Consumers who purchased the bassinets could return them to the store for a refund.

When the Missouri child died last fall, Simplicity was already in dire financial straits, owing to another massive crib recall it had issued earlier in the summer. With creditors circling, Simplicity sold its assets at auction two months later. According to The Washington Post, the assets were purchased by SFCA Inc., an affiliate of Blackstreet Capital, a Bethesda, Maryland private-equity fund with $88 million dollars under management.

Under the deal, SFCA bought the right to sell products under the Simplicity brand but did not take legal responsibility for products made under its previous owners. So when the CPSC asked SFCA to recall the deadly bassinets, it refused.

According to a statement released by SFCA, it and Simplicity Inc. are completely distinct companies, and the products in question were manufactured by Simplicity Inc. SFCA also said that a court order had released it from liability for any products made by Simplicity before it acquired its assets. Finally, SFCA said that the CPSC press release warning of the bassinet mischaracterized SFCA's ongoing cooperation with the agency.

Despite the legal loopholes that let SFCA off the hook, the CPSC could have issued the bassinet recall after the first death in Missouri. That incident occurred months before the Simplicity assets were sold. Such quick action might have also saved the little girl in Kansas who died last month. But for some reason, the CPSC did nothing when it was informed of the death.

A lawyer for that child's family asked the CPSC just days after the baby's death to recall the bassinet. No one from the agency called him back. The sheriff who investigated the death told The Chicago Tribune that he heard from the CPSC. But he says it never asked him for his reports—and wouldn't share its findings with him.

For its part, spokeswoman Julie Vallese told the Chicago Tribune that the CPSC did not recall the bassinet last fall because “the investigation of a baby’s death remains open because there are still questions surrounding the circumstances of that baby’s death.”

But the coroner who investigated that baby’s death told the Tribune that is not true. “It was clear-cut,” McDonald County Coroner B.J. Goodwin III said. “We all felt it was the crib that caused the passing.”

Deadly Simplicity Bassinets Recalled

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Around 900,000 deadly Simplicity Bassinets, blamed for killing two children, are being removed from stores across the country. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), six retailers - Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us, Kmart, Big Lots, Target and J.C. Penney - have voluntary agreed to stop selling Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible "Close-Sleeper" model bassinets. The announcement came one day after the CPSC warned consumers to stop using the Simplicity Bassinets. No recall was issued at that time because the company that now owns Simplicity Inc. refused to do so.

According to the CPSC, the bassinets contain metal bars paced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, the maximum distance allowed under federal crib safety standards. This defect poses a strangulation hazard. Parents and caregivers should stop using the Simplicity Bassinet immediately and return it to the store where purchased for a refund or store credit.

The Simplicity Bassinet recall followed the death of a six-month old girl in Kansas last Thursday. Police in Shawnee, Kansas said the baby became caught in the metal bars of a 4-in-1 Bassinet. As a result, she was strangled.

Last September, the same bassinet claimed the life of a 4-month-old Missouri girl. The infant had slipped out the side of the bassinet between a lower horizontal railing and her mattress, and had become trapped in a 4-inch gap between the railing and top of the mattress. The little girl’s death was ruled an “accidental positional asphyxiation.”

The earlier death was reported to the CPSC, but the agency took no action. Commission spokeswoman Julie Vallese told the Chicago Tribune that the CPSC did not recall the bassinet last fall because “the investigation of a baby’s death in October 2007 remains open because there are still questions surrounding the circumstances of that baby’s death.”

But the coroner who investigated that baby’s death told the Tribune that is not true. “It was clear-cut,” McDonald County Coroner B.J. Goodwin III said. “We all felt it was the crib that caused the passing.”

The CPSC has been forced to request that retailers stop selling the deadly Simplicity Bassinets because SFCA Inc., the company which purchased all of Simplicity Inc.’s assets at public auction in April 2008, has refused to cooperate with the government and recall the products. According to the CPSC, SFCA maintains that it is not responsible for products manufactured by Simplicity Inc before that purchase. According to The Washington Post, SFCA is an affiliate of Blackstreet Capital, a Bethesda private-equity fund with $88 million dollars under management.

Despite SFCA's refusal to issue a recall of the Simplicity Bassinets, the CPSC was able to act under a two-week-old law that allows the agency to alert the public about dangerous products. more quickly. The law was passed in response to last year's recalls of millions of lead-tainted toys.

Deaths Prompt Simplicity Bassinet Warning, But No Recall

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

A popular Simplicity bassinet has been implicated in two infant deaths since last September, but has yet to be recalled. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has warned parents to stop using the Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets because they contain metal bars spaced farther apart than federal standards allow. However, the company that now owns Simplicity has defied the CPSC and is refusing to recall the deadly bassinets.

Last September, a Simplicity Winnie the Pooh 4-in-1 Bassinet claimed the life of a 4-month-old Missouri girl. The infant had slipped out the side of the bassinet between a lower horizontal railing and her mattress, and had become trapped in a 4-inch gap between the railing and top of the mattress. The little girl’s death was ruled an “accidental positional asphyxiation.”

The same bassinet has been blamed in the death of a six-month-old child in Kansas last Thursday. Again, the little girl slipped between the mattress and the side railing after the mattress came loose from the frame.

The CPSC is now urging parents and caregivers to stop using convertible “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” bassinets manufactured by Simplicity Inc. In addition to the 4-in-1 version implicated in the two deaths, the warning also applies to 3-in-1 models because the beds share the same design.

Neither of the deadly beds are being recalled because SFCA Inc., the company which purchased all of Simplicity Inc.’s assets at public auction in April 2008, has refused to cooperate with the government and recall the products. According to the CPSC, SFCA maintains that it is not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity Inc.

SFCA acquired Simplicity when the company ran into financial difficulty following a crib recall that occurred last summer. In August 2007, the CPSC issued a recall notice for 1.2 million Simplicity and Graco cribs because a flaw in the design of the cribs allowed parents to install the drop rail upside down. When this happened, the drop rail could separate from the crib, creating a gap into which a child could fall and suffocate. Three children died in those faulty cribs before they were finally recalled.

The CPSC was subjected to harsh criticism following that crib recall. When the agency investigated the death of a 9-month-old boy in one of the recalled cribs in 2005, its inspector did not even bother to identify the type of crib involved in his death. According to that child’s parents, the CPSC did not even inspect the Simplicity crib that killed him. And according to a report in the Chicago Tribune, the CPSC only decided to issue the Simplicity and Graco crib recall after it learned that the newspaper was about to publish an expose detailing the agency’s shoddy 2005 investigation.

Now, the CPSC will likely face more questions following today's Simplicity Bassinet warning. Many people are going to want to know why the agency did not recall the bassinets following the first death last September. Commission spokeswoman Julie Vallese told the Chicago Tribune that the CPSC did not recall the bassinet last fall because "the investigation of a baby's death in October 2007 remains open because there are still questions surrounding the circumstances of that baby's death."

But the coroner who investigated that baby's death told the Tribune that is not true. "It was clear-cut," McDonald County Coroner B.J. Goodwin III said. "We all felt it was the crib that caused the passing."

How Safe is Your Baby's Bassinet?

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Bassinets are growing in popularity with use almost doubling in the past ten years. Approximately 45 percent of parents use bassinets today for their babies younger than two months. Bassinets offer parents the convenience of sleeping in the same room as their infants without the danger of sharing the same bed. Unfortunately, a recent study is saying that bassinets come with their own significant safety concerns. Worse, while bassinets gain in popularity, there are no official government safety standards for this type of infant bed/carrier. All that is published are construction guidelines for manufacturers released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The new study, which can be found in the current issue of The Journal of Pediatrics, evaluated bassinet use risk factors.

Researchers at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington reviewed the death reports of 53 infants who died suddenly and unexpectedly in bassinets. In the vast majority of the cases—85 percent—researchers found that lack of oxygen was the cause of death. In over half of the cases studied, the infants were found on their stomachs; other items such as blankets, pillows, and even plastic bags were found in 74 percent of the bassinets. Nine infants died in bassinets that were not functioning properly with the malfunctions stemming from either "misuse" or mechanical problems. “If parents plan to use a bassinet, they should make sure that it is in good repair and conforms to CPSC guidelines,” say the authors of the bassinet study.

The CPSC guidelines call for bassinets to have a sturdy bottom with a wide base; smooth surfaces without protruding hardware; legs with locks; and a firm, snug-fitting mattress. Six of the 53 infants who died in bassinet accidents were found with their faces wedged against the side of the bassinet. Because of this, the authors of the study suggest that a bassinet with sides made of an air-permeable material, such as mesh, may be a safer alternative. The authors also stress that parents should always lay infants on their backs and never put loose items like blankets or pillows in the bassinet with the baby.

When shopping for a bassinet, ensure the item has a sticker that indicates the furniture has received certification from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). While a JPMA certification is not a guarantee of safety, it is today’s best assurance to consumers that the bassinet meets the voluntary safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM). Unfortunately, the standards are voluntary and bassinet manufacturers are not required to conform to such standards.

Meanwhile, last month, a crib recall of 320,000 cribs was initiated over flimsy wood that posed entrapment and strangulation risks to infants. The shoddy cribs made it into stores because there is no US regulatory standard that mandates what type of wood be used in cribs. This is not the first time cribs have experienced wide-scale recalls over similar problems.

Simplicity, CPSC Get Failing Marks for Simplicity and Graco Crib Recall

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Graco and Simplicity cribs, recalled in the fall of 2007, continue to be best sellers. This despite the fact that the manufacturer, Simplicity Cribs, waited so long to recall the faulty cribs, which were implicated in the deaths of at several children. Apparently, many parents still trust Simplicity and Graco cribs, even though Simplicity never issued refunds for the dangerous cribs, and took weeks to get repair kits to owners of the recalled Simplicity and Graco cribs.

In September 2007, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall for 1.2 million Simplicity and Graco cribs because a flaw in the design of the cribs allowed parents to install the drop rail upside down. When this happened, the drop rail could separate from the crib, creating a gap into which a child could fall and suffocate. The recall was so urgent that in issuing it, the CPSC warned parents not to allow their child to sleep in the defective cribs “for one more night” until they obtained and installed a repair kit. By the time the CPSC issued its Graco and Simplicity crib recall notice, it had received 55 reports of children being trapped by the cribs, and it knew of three infants who had been killed because of the defect.

But it didn’t have to be that way. According to a Chicago Tribune investigation, the CPSC first encountered the cribs when it investigated the death of little Liam Johns in April 2005. Liam’s mother had found him hanging in a gap between his crib’s drop rail and mattress, where he had suffocated. During the investigation, the CPSC inspector assigned to Liam’s case never even bothered to inspect the crib where the baby had died. Even worse, when the final report on the baby’s death was released by the CPSC, it failed to note the crib’s manufacturer and model. The CPSC did not issue a recall for the Simplicity and Graco cribs at that time. As a result, in the years after Liam’s death, millions of parents purchased the Simplicity and Graco cribs, unaware of the dangers they held.

When the CPSC did finally recall the Simplicity and Graco cribs, the action came only after it had learned that the Chicago Tribune was investigating the deaths of Liam and the two other children. According to the reporter working on the Tribune investigation, the CPSC finally inspected one of the cribs after he had called the agency seeking comments for his story. Three days later, the CPSC issued the crib recall.

Simplicity’s performance in the crib recall wasn’t much better. Instead of giving refunds to parents who bought the faulty Simplicity and Graco cribs, the company offered purchasers a kit to fix them. Unfortunately, those repair kits weren’t available for several weeks after the recall. What’s worse, some parents who asked Simplicity to overnight repair kits were never told that they weren’t ready. Rather, Simplicity sent out replacement parts that don’t even include installation instructions. Apparently, the replacement parts hadn’t even been approved by the CPSC. It wasn’t until October 26, more than a month after the recall, that purchasers of the recalled Simplicity and Graco cribs finally received the right repair kits.

Bassettbaby Crib Recall Response Questioned

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800

The recent Bassettbaby crib recall has again sparked criticism of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), which took three weeks to send representative to pick up one of the defective products. Problems have also been reported about the Bassettbaby company’s response to problems with the cribs. One parent claims that when he contacted Bassettbaby about a defective Wendy Bellisimo Convertible crib, the representative he spoke with was less than helpful.

The parents said that after they discovered their baby daughter's fingers pinched between the sides of the Bassettbaby crib, they realized that the bolt holes had been drilled too close to the edge, causing the wood to split and resulting in the sides of the crib separating. The parents immediately notified the company hoping the situation would be addressed, but Bassettbaby did not seem concerned or interested in pursuing the matter, telling the parents that theirs was the only complaint the firm had received about that crib. The parents state that when they asked Bassettbaby to send an investigator to their home and notify the proper authorities, they were told the company was not going to send an investigator or take any action to notify anyone.

A recall was recently issued for nearly 9000 of the baby cribs due to a construction flaw that poses a serious danger to any child who might be placed in the crib.

This week, the firm's attorney responded to the parent’s claim that a company official's response was inappropriate and lacking. Bassettbaby says they dispute the parents’ account of the events.

CPSC finally sent an investigator to the home on October 8th, taking the crib with them, nearly one month after the incident and complaint. Bassettbaby claims they notified the CPSC within five days of speaking with the parents and prior to the parents notifying the agency. Bassettbaby claims they conducted a joint investigation with the CPSC, issuing a voluntary recall and a joint press release on November 8th. As part of its response to the situation, Bassettbaby is providing free repair kits.

This is the second major crib recall issued by the CPSC in recent months. In September, close to one million Graco and Simplicity cribs were recalled due to a design flaw that resulted in three children’s deaths. The CPSC was criticized for its handling of the investigation and, according to the Chicago Tribune, when the CPSC looked into the death of a nine-month old boy, the CPSC inspector never bothered to identify the type of crib involved nor did he inspect the crib. The CPSC issued the recall after learning the Chicago Tribune was about to reveal the agency’s mishandling of the cases.

The CPSC says the Bassettbaby Crib recall involves several models of the Wendy Bellissimo Collection convertible cribs sold exclusively at Babies "R" Us nationwide from July 2005 through October 2007 and is due to an entrapment and strangulation hazard. The bolts connecting the top corners of the crib may come loose, creating a gap. According to the CPSC, Bassettbaby received 85 reports of bolts loosening, including one report of a 13-month old child's hand becoming trapped between the railings.

Bassettbaby Crib Recall Issued Due to Entrapment, Strangulation Hazard

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Bassettbaby is recalling some of its cribs because bolts on the top of the cribs’ guardrails can loosen, creating a gap and posing a strangulation and entrapment hazard.   According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the Bassettbaby crib recall was prompted by 85 reports of bolts loosening on the recalled Bassettbaby cribs, including one report of a 13-month-old child’s hand becoming trapped between the railings of the defective product.

The Bassettbaby crib recall encompasses about 8,900 defective cribs sold at Babies ‘R Us stores through out the country. The recall involves Wendy Bellissimo Collection convertible cribs, model numbers 5945-052 and 5545-052 sold in honey and cherry finishes.   The full size cribs have a sleigh design and one of the following purchase order numbers at the bottom rail of the headboard: 272903, 272904, 273904, 276728, 276729, 291081, 323975, 324472, 320318, 323976, 332883 365620, 368466 in honey, and 338535, 338537 and 332884 in cherry. The recalled Bassettbaby cribs were sold for about $500 between July 2005 and October 2007.

This is the second major crib recall issued by the CPSC in the past several months. In September, Simplicity recalled about 1 million Graco and Simplicity cribs because a flaw in the design of the beds allowed them to be assembled with the drop rail upside down. When this happened, the rail could separate from the side, creating a gap where a child could become entrapped and suffocate. The deaths of three children have been blamed on the recalled Simplicity and Graco cribs. Simplicity’s reputation was further sullied after it took the company just over a month to provide repair kits for the dangerous cribs.

Following the Simplicity crib recall, the CPSC was roundly criticized for the way it handled its investigation into the defective cribs. According to the Chicago Tribune, when the agency investigated the death of a 9-month-old boy in a Simplicity crib in 2005, its inspector did not even bother to identify the type of crib involved in his death. The child’s distraught parents said that the CPSC did not even inspect the Simplicity crib that killed him.   And according to a report in the Chicago Tribune, the CPSC only decided to issue the Simplicity and Graco crib recall after it learned that the newspaper was about to publish an expose detailing the agency’s shoddy 2005 investigation.

Fortunately, in the case of the Bassettbaby crib recall, it appears that the CPSC has acted in time to prevent a tragedy. The CPSC is warning consumers who purchased a crib involved in the Bassettbaby crib recall to stop using these cribs immediately.   Bassettbaby is offering consumers a free repair kit for the defective crib. The repair kits and additional Bassettbaby crib recall information can be obtained by calling the company at 888-897-4689 or by visiting www.bassettbaby.com. In a press release announcing the Bassettbaby crib recall, the company said that it had changed its production methods to eliminate the hazard posed by the defective cribs.

Simplicity and Graco Crib Recall Repair Kits Finally Ready

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The Simplicity and Graco crib recall is over a month old, yet the manufacturer of the defective Simplicity and Graco cribs is only beginning to send out repair kits for the dangerous products. More than 1 million Simplicity and Graco cribs were recalled last month, after they were linked to the deaths of several children.

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) Web site, free repair kit will be sent to crib owners who have pre-registered or who register now on Simplicity’s Web site (www.simplicityforchildren.com) or through Simplicity’s hotline at (888) 593-9274. In addition, consumers will be offered a rebate coupon for a future purchase as an incentive to return a reply card indicating that they have successfully installed the repair hardware. Instructions for installing the new hardware are also included on the Simplicity Web site.

Simplicity, the maker of the potentially deadly cribs, recalled more than a million of them because a flaw in the design of the beds allowed them to be assembled with the drop rail upside down. When this happened, the rail could separate from the side, creating a gap where a child could become entrapped and suffocate. The deaths of three children have been blamed on the recalled Simplicity and Graco cribs.

The new repair kits include hardware that will immobilize the drop rail on the defective Simplicity and Graco cribs. But some consumer advocates have argued that owners of the recalled Simplicity and Graco cribs should be able to return the hazardous cribs to Simplicity for a refund. There is fear that parents who purchased a Simplicity or Graco crib covered by the recall may have done so specifically because it featured a drop rail, and will not use the repair kit. According to the Chicago Tribune Review, the CPSC has indicated that Simplicity might offer refunds in individual circumstances when a consumer cannot use the repair kit, however, such action would be entirely at Simplicity’s discretion.

Simplicity was roundly criticized for not having the repair kits ready when it announced the Simplicity and Graco crib recall on September 21. Several members of Congress had written the CPSC demanding that Simplicity provide a remedy to the defective cribs immediately. The CPSC said it had issued the Simplicity and Graco crib recall before the repair kits were ready because of the immediate danger posed by the hazardous cribs.

The CPSC itself has not escaped criticism for its handling of the Simplicity and Graco crib recall. According to the Chicago Tribune when the agency investigated the 2005 death of a 9-month-old boy in one of the defective cribs, its inspector did not even bother to identify the type of crib involved in his death. The child’s distraught parents said that CPSC did not even inspect the Simplicity crib that killed him. And according to a report in the Chicago Tribune, the CPSC only decided to issue the crib recall after it learned that the newspaper was about to publish an expose detailing the agency’s shoddy 2005 investigation.

Simplicity 4-in-1 Bassinet Implicated in Death of Baby Girl

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

A Simplicity Bassinet may have claimed the life of a 4-month-old Missouri girl last month, raising fears that September’s massive crib recall was not far reaching enough. At that time, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled more than 1 million defective Simplicity and Graco cribs that had been blamed for the deaths of 3 children. The Simplicity Bassinet implicated in this tragedy was not part of that recall action.

According to the Associated Press, the parents of Katelynn Marie Simon found her unresponsive in her Simplicity 4-in-1 Bassinet on the morning of September 29, 2007. The infant had slipped out the side of the bassinet between a lower horizontal railing and her mattress, and had become trapped in a 4-inch gap between the railing and top of the mattress. The McDonald County Coroners Office has ruled the little girl’s death an “accidental positional asphyxiation.”

A McDonald County deputy sheriff who investigated Katelynn’s death told the Associated Press that the design of the Simplicity 4-in-1 Bassinet was to blame for the tragedy. The Sheriff’s office notified the CPSC of the incident, and inspectors from the agency recently traveled to Missouri to inspect the bassinet and watch a recreation of the accident.   There has been no word yet on whether or not the CPSC will issue a recall of the Simplicity 4-in-1 Bassinet.

The bassinette implicated in Katelynn Simon’s death is model number 3112DOH6 and is decorated with Winnie the Pooh characters.   It is a very popular model, and sells for about $90 in retail stores and specialty shops around the country. The Simon’s lawyer told the Associated Press that the family wants the crib recalled.

Last month, the CPSC issued a recall notice for 1.2 million Simplicity and Graco cribs because a flaw in the design of the cribs allowed parents to install the drop rail upside down. When this happened, the drop rail could separate from the crib, creating a gap into which a child could fall and suffocate. Three children died in those faulty cribs before they were finally recalled.

The CPSC was subjected to harsh criticism following that crib recall. When the agency investigated the death of a 9-month-old boy in one of the recalled cribs in 2005, its inspector did not even bother to identify the type of crib involved in his death. According to that child’s parents, the CPSC did not even inspect the Simplicity crib that killed him.   And according to a report in the Chicago Tribune, the CPSC only decided to issue the Simplicity and Graco crib recall after it learned that the newspaper was about to publish an expose detailing the agency’s shoddy 2005 investigation.

The CPSC has not yet commented publicly on its investigation into Katelynn Simon’s death. But one consumer advocate told the Associated Press that the CPSC should move as quickly as possible to remove the faulty Simplicity 4-in-1 Bassinet from the market.

Simplicity and Graco Crib Recall Frustrates Parents, as Repair Kits Nowhere to Be Found

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

When defective Simplicity and Graco cribs were recalled last month, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) said that the recall was so urgent that parents should not allow their children to sleep in the cribs even “one more night”. But now, parents who are calling Simplicity, Inc. as instructed to order a repair kit for the recalled cribs are finding those kits are not so easy to come by. In fact, Simplicity does not even have the repair kits ready.

Simplicity, the maker of the potentially deadly cribs, recalled more than a million of them because a flaw in the design of the beds allowed them to be assembled with the drop rail upside down. When this happened, the rail could separate from the side, creating a gap where a child could become entrapped and suffocate. The deaths of three children have been blamed on the recalled Simplicity and Graco cribs.

But now, nearly two weeks after the recall notice went out, Simplicity is telling anxious parents that it could be three to four weeks before they get a repair kit to fix the cribs’ defects.   That’s because the CPSC allowed the company to issue the recall prior to designing and manufacturing the kits.   The CPSC said this was necessary because of the immediate danger posed by the hazardous cribs.

What’s worse, parents who have asked Simplicity to overnight repair kits say they’re not being told that the kits aren’t ready.   Rather, Simplicity is sending out replacement parts that don’t even include installation instructions. Apparently, the replacement parts haven’t even been approved by the CPSC.

A least one state Attorney General is disturbed at the way the entire Simplicity and Graco crib recall is playing out   Michigan AG Lisa Madigan has called on Simplicity to refund parents for the dangerous cribs so that they can purchase safer bedding for their children now.   So far, Simplicity has declined to do this and the CPSC has been backing the company up.

Of course, the CPSC’s conduct in this whole tragic story has been less than stellar. According to the Chicago Tribune, when the agency investigated the death of a 9-month-old boy in one of the defective cribs in 2005, its inspector did not even bother to identify the type of crib involved in his death. The child’s distraught parents said that CPSC did not even inspect he Simplicity crib that killed him.   The Chicago Tribune also reported that the CPSC only decided to issue the crib recall after it learned that the newspaper was about to publish an expose detailing the agency’s shoddy 2005 investigation.

For its part, Simplicity is claiming that it only sent replacement parts to consumers who asked for them, and never meant for anyone to believe they would be getting a repair kit so soon.   And Simplicity says that when the kits are ready, they will come with both written instructions and an English and Spanish video that will direct consumers as to the kit’s proper installation.   So far though, Simplicity has had no advice for parents who own the recalled cribs and are wondering were their babies should sleep tonight.

Lawsuit Filed in Simplicity Crib Recall by Family Who Says Crib Became a Deathtrap For Their Baby

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

A Houston family says a defective Simplicity crib killed their baby girl, and now they are taking the company to court. Royale Arceneaux, 7-months-old, died in her Simplicity crib last February after she became entrapped in a gap created by the crib’s faulty drop rail. Royale is one of three children known to have died in hazardous Simplicity and Graco cribs that were recalled by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) last week.

Simplicity, the maker of the cribs, recalled more than a million of them last Friday because a flaw in the design of the beds allowed them to be assembled with the drop rail upside down. When this happened, the rail could separate from the side, creating a gap where a child could become entrapped and suffocate.

According to Royale’s parents, that is exactly what happened to her.   The Arceneaux’s mistakenly put the crib together incorrectly, and the baby fell into a gap when part of the rail separated from the rest of the crib. Her head became wedged against the mattress and the little girl suffocated.

The Arceneaux’s said that when they assembled the defective Simplicity crib, they followed the manufacturer’s instructions “to the best of our ability.”   But according to their lawyer, there was nothing on either the instructions or the crib itself indicating the top or bottom of the drop rail.   That omission led Royale’s parents to mistakenly install the rail incorrectly.

It was a mistake that many others made as well. At least two other children were killed by the dangerous Simplicity and Graco cribs, while the CPSC says that seven others became dangerously entrapped in them. The CPSC also received reports of 55 other “incidents” involving the recalled cribs, and those reports included cribs that were even assembled correctly.   The first death attributed to the cribs occurred in 2005, and now many are questioning why it took so long for the CPSC to warn parents about the dangers they posed.

When it issued the crib recall last week, the CPSC underscored its urgency by warning parents not to allow their children to sleep in the cribs “one more night.” But when the agency investigated the death of a 9-month-old boy in one of the cribs in 2005, its inspector did not even bother to identify the type of crib involved in his death. According to that child’s parents, the CPSC did not even inspect the Simplicity crib that killed him.   And according to a report in the Chicago Tribune, the CPSC only decided to issue last week’s crib recall after it learned that the newspaper was about to publish an expose detailing the agency’s shoddy 2005 investigation.

Had the CPSC identified and recalled the crib that was involved in the 2005 fatality, Royale and at least one other child might be alive now. But Royale’s mother said that she is relieved that parents now know how dangerous the recalled Simplicity cribs can be.   She told a Houston TV station earlier this week that though nothing can bring her daughter back, she is sleeping better knowing that no other families need suffer the same tragedy.

Simplicity Crib Recall Graco Crib Lawsuit Attorneys

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Graco and Simplicity Crib Recall
On September 21, 2007, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) ordered a recall of 1.2 million Simplicity and Graco cribs that were responsible for the deaths of at least two infants.   The CPSC issued the recall announcement because a flaw in the design of the cribs allowed consumers to install a drop rail upside down.   When this happened, the drop rail could detach from the crib, creating a gap where an infant could become entrapped and suffocate.

The dangerous cribs were manufactured in China by Simplicity, Inc. of Reading, Pennsylvania. The recall included cribs sold under the Simplicity and Graco names.   The recalled Simplicity models included: Aspen 3 in 1, Aspen 4 in 1, Nursery-in-a-Box, Crib N Changer Combo, Chelsea and Pooh 4 in 1. The recall also involved the following Simplicity cribs that used the Graco logo: Aspen 3 in 1, Ultra 3 in 1, Ultra 4 in1, Ultra 5 in 1, Whitney and the Trio. The cribs have one of the following model numbers, which can be found on the envelope attached to the mattress support and on the label attached to the headboard: 4600, 4605, 4705, 5000, 8000, 8324, 8800, 8740, 8910, 8994, 8050, 8750, 8760, and 8996. The cribs were made in China and sold throughout the US between January 1998 and May 2007.

The CPSC said that the defective cribs were responsible for the deaths of a 9-month-old infant in California, and a 6-month-old in Georgia.   At the time of the recall, the CPSC was also investigating the death of a 1-year-old child that was possibly connected to the recalled Simplicity and Graco Cribs.   In addition, the CPSC said that it knew of at least 55 other accidents that were related to the cribs.

The CPSC warned caregivers to check the recalled cribs to insure that the drop rail was properly installed. However, the CPSC also said that it was aware of incidents involving the recalled cribs even when the rail was installed right-side-up.   For that reason, consumers were warned not to use the hazardous cribs until they obtained a repair kit from the manufacturer. The repair kits can be ordered by contacting Simplicity (888-593-9274 or www.simplicityforchildren.com). Once the hardware is installed, consumers should still check the crib's drop rail to ensure it is assembled right-side up.

Chicago Tribune Investigation
The same day the CPSC ordered the crib recall, the Chicago Tribune revealed that it had been investigating the defective cribs, and was preparing to publish an expose on the dangers of the recalled Simplicity and Graco Cribs. The Tribune said that its investigation would detail the death of one of the infants in 2005, including an allegation that the CPSC failed to identify the model and manufacturer of the crib that killed that child. The Tribune story will also document many other complaints about the defective cribs received by the CPSC over the past several years. According to that newspaper, it was only after its reporters started asking questions that the CPSC sent an investigator to retrieve a crib and look at its flaws. That inspection took place only three days prior to the recall and it is what apparently finally prompted the CPSC to act.

Legal Help for Victims of Defective Cribs
The attorneys at Parker Waichman Alonso LLP understand that the cribs involved in the Graco and Simplicity recall can cause devastating injuries to children. If your child has been injured by a defective Simplicity or Graco crib, you may be entitled to compensation. Please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified product liability attorney.