Black Dog Tavern Company Fined for Failing to Report Sales of Previously Recalled Children's Sweatshirts - Recall Expanded to Include Additional Sweatshirts

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Black Dog Tavern Company Inc., of Vineyard Haven, Mass., has agreed to pay a $50,000 civil penalty. The penalty, which the Commission has provisionally accepted, settles allegations that the company failed to report to CPSC the sale of children's hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings after the product was recalled for a strangulation hazard.

In February 2006, Black Dog announced the recall of 9,700 children's sweatshirts. The recall program included the requirement that the firm stop selling the recalled items. CPSC investigators later discovered that Black Dog stores continued to sell recalled sweatshirts after the recall was announced.

Federal law requires firms to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial risk of injury to the public, presents an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or violates a federal safety standard.

The expanded recall includes additional sweatshirts sold since the February 2006 recall announcement. No incidents or injuries have been reported relating to these sweatshirts. Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard.

The recalled sweatshirts have a black dog on the front and are sold in youth sizes up to size 12 with drawstrings through the hood. Sweatshirt colors include navy blue, gray, red, pink, black or oatmeal. "The Black Dog," "Est. 71," or "The Black Dog/Martha's Vineyard" are printed on the back of some of the sweatshirts. A tag sewn on the inside of the garment reads "The Black Dog." Style numbers K086, K088, K090, K062, or K063 are printed on the garments' hang tags.

For additional information, contact Black Dog at (800) 626-1991 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.theblackdog.com.

In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

In agreeing to settle the matter, Black Dog denies CPSC's allegations that the company knowingly violated the law.