WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Raynor Marketing Ltd., of West Hempstead, N.Y., has agreed to a civil penalty of $390,000. The penalty agreement has been accepted provisionally by the Commission.
The settlement resolves CPSC staff allegations that Raynor Marketing Ltd. was aware of a defect involving office chairs it sold to consumers, as well incidents and injuries, yet the firm failed to report immediately to CPSC as required by federal law.
CPSC and Raynor Marketing Ltd. announced a recall of 150,000 office chairs in October 2009. Bolts attaching the seatback can loosen and detach, posing a fall and injury hazard to consumers. Raynor imported the chairs between May 2006 and March 2009 for sale exclusively at Office Depot stores nationwide and on online at Office Depot.com.
Federal law requires manufacturers, distributors, and retailers 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 product hazard, creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or fails to comply with any consumer product safety rule or any other rule, regulation, standard, or ban enforced by CPSC.
In agreeing to the settlement, Raynor Marketing Ltd. denies CPSC staff allegations that it knowingly violated the law.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
- Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.
- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).
- Contact a media specialist.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800