Retailers were asked by the Consumer Safety Agency to expressly stop sales of its Simplicity model bassinets after the death of two infants. The Consumer Product Safety Commission directed retailers to immediately stop sales of the model of bassinets related to the two infant deaths and refund the customers following its test of powers according to product safety law.
This action was taken subsequent to the warning issued by CPSC asking parents not to use “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” bassinets produced by the Simplicity of Reading, Pa. Kan from Shawnee, a six and a half month old infant was caught in the metal bars of the bassinet, 900,000 of which is currently in circulation and was strangled to death.
SFCA who was the owner of Simplicity’s assets however refused to recall the bassinets from the market following which CPSC was forced to directly warn retailers to stop selling. According to Rick Locker, SFCA’s attorney, this company is not legally bound in any way for the consequences of bassinets produced by Simplicity just because it had taken over its assets.
The company’s attorney also reiterated that bassinets currently in circulation are absolutely safe. CPSC’s warning to recall Simplicity’s bassinets was timed exactly a year after the death of another infant Mo, a four month old from Neol. This death was also from a co-sleeper bassinet from Simplicity. Some of the leading stores across America including Wal-mart have ordered the removal of Simplicity bassinets from their shelves following CPSC’s directive.
