Hunton Retail Law Resource

November brought a reminder that civil penalties are the trend to watch from the CPSC when a pet goods retailer agreed to a $4.25 million penalty for failing to immediately report to CPSC an alleged defect in fish bowls at risk of breaking, which posed a risk to purchasers of cutting themselves. CPSC’s data shows a hefty increase in the amount of civil penalties extracted, ranging from a low of $700,000 to a high of $4.3 million in fiscal year 2015 and a low of $2 million to a whopping high of $15.45 million in fiscal year 2016. Virtually all of those instances involved a “failure to report” or delay in reporting.

Otherwise, November continued a recent trend of recalls involving bikes and motorcycles. From parts to frames, two-wheeled transportation continues to create potential liability for manufacturers as the holiday season intensifies.

Looking for the perfect gift for that special someone? You may want to avoid electronics that pose fire hazards, such as recently recalled teapots and dehumidifiers. According to the CPSC, the recalled dehumidifiers alone have resulted in 38 incidents of smoke and fire, plus about $4.8 million worth of property damage.

Total Recalls: 13

Hazards: Fall (4); Laceration (2); Fire (2); Injury (2); Bacterial Exposure (1); Crash (1); Choke (1)

Click the chart below for additional information.