When products that make it to market end up being dangerous, the most vulnerable among us sometimes fall victim. And although it’s been a decade in the making, Fisher-Price has finally issued a recall of its Rock ‘n Play sleepers, an infant cradle-type device that has been linked to over 30 infant deaths over the past 10 years, media reports.
If you or a loved one has been injured or died as a result of a dangerous product, our Los Angeles product liability attorney wants to help. You have the right to expect the products you purchase to cause no harm. When the worst-case scenario occurs and a dangerous product is to blame, you can hold the responsible party accountable for your damages.
According to the CPSC, the deaths occurred when infants using the Rock ‘n Play “rolled over while unrestrained or under other circumstances.” The deaths date back as far as 2009. The cause of the deaths was not revealed in the recall notice. The CPSC says that additional deaths are being looked into by the commission to determine if they were the result of using the product. A Consumer Reports analysis of deaths from 2011 to 2018 linked the product to 32 total deaths.
The government’s Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has linked this popular baby product to these deaths, prompting the recall by Fisher-Price. According to Ann Marie Buerkle, acting chairwoman of the CPSC, parents should stop using the product immediately and contact Fisher-Price in order to arrange a voucher or a refund. Fisher-Price can be reached at 866-812-6518 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
Fisher-Price, in conjunction with the CPSC, initially issued just a warning about the Rock ‘n Play product last week. However, following the warning, grieving parents along with the American Academy of Pediatrics began jockeying for immediate recall. Fisher-Price, through its General Manager Chuck Scothon, says that the company will continue to stand by the safety of the products that it produces and is committed to the safety and well-being of infants and preschoolers using its products.
A Grieving Family
The recall of this dangerous product came too late for 5-month-old Ezra Overton. His parents Keenan and Evan Overton say that they found the infant dead in the Rock ‘n Play sleeper three days prior to Christmas in 2017. Ezra, who was napping in the sleeper while his father lay asleep on the couch beside him, was found in a standing position, face down in the chair. The child’s head was on the back of the seat. They are happy that the recall has occurred, stating that “Our main thing is to inform other people so, that it won’t happen to somebody else.”
Unsafe Products
The deaths caused by this dangerous infant product are heartbreaking, surely leaving holes in the hearts of families across the country. If you have been the victim of an unsafe product, reach out to JML Law and our Los Angeles product liability attorney at 818-610-8800 to discuss your case and begin working toward holding the responsible party to task for their negligence.
