[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 202 (Thursday, October 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25966]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 20, 1994]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
[CPSC Docket No. 95-C0001]

 

Gund, Inc., a Corporation; Provisional Acceptance of a Settlement 
Agreement and Order

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Provisional acceptance of a settlement agreement under the 
Consumer Product Safety Act.

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SUMMARY: It is the policy of the Commission to publish settlements 
which it provisionally accepts under the Consumer Product Safety Act in 
the Federal Register in accordance with the terms of 16 CFR 1118.20 (e) 
through (h). Published below is a provisionally-accepted Settlement 
Agreement with Gund, Inc., a corporation.

DATES: Any interested person may ask the Commission not to accept this 
agreement or otherwise comment on its contents by filing a written 
request with the Office of the Secretary by November 4, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to comment on this Settlement Agreement 
should send written comments to the Comment 95-C0001, Office of the 
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Eric L. Stone, Trial Attorney, Office of Compliance and Enforcement, 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207; telephone 
(301) 504-0626.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The text of the Agreement and Order appears 
below.

    Dated: October 14, 1994.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary.

Settlement Agreement and Order

    Gund, Inc. (``Gund or ``Respondent'') enters into this Settlement 
Agreement and Order (``the Agreement'') with the staff (``the staff'') 
of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (``the Commission'') pursuant 
to the procedures set forth in Sec. 1118.20 of the Commission's 
Procedures for Investigations, Inspections, and Inquiries under the 
Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), 16 CFR Part 1118.

The Parties

    1. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent 
regulatory agency of the United States government responsible for the 
enforcement of the Consumer Product Safety Act, 15 U.S.C. 2051-2084, 
and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA), 15 U.S.C. 1261-1277.
    2. Respondent Gund is a corporation organized and existing under 
the laws of the State of New Jersey with principal corporate offices at 
1 Runyons Lane, Edison, NJ 08818. Gund is a manufacturer and importer 
of plush toys and cribmobiles known as ``Gundmobiles.''

Staff Allegations

    3. The Gundmobile is a musical mobile designed to be attached to 
the side of a baby's crib. It is a consumer product, as that term is 
defined in section 3(a)(1) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(1) and also a 
toy or other article intended for use by children under three years of 
age, 16 CFR 1501.2.
    4. From May 30, 1991 through July 1992 Gund knowingly introduced or 
delivered for introduction into interstate commerce, and received in 
interstate commerce and delivered or proffered delivery of certain 
Gundmobiles that were banned hazardous substances under 
Sec. 1500.18(a)(9) and part 1501 of Title 16 CFR. Gund, therefore, 
knowingly violated sections 4 (a) and (c) of the FHSA, 15 U.S.C. 1263 
(a) and (c), and is subject to civil penalties under section 5(c) of 
the FHSA, 15 U.S.C. 1264(c).
    5. Although Gund received test reports showing its product produced 
small parts during use and abuse testing, as well as numerous consumer 
reports of breakage of the Gundmobile hooks, it failed to notify the 
staff in a timely manner that its Gundmobiles created an unreasonable 
risk of serious injury or death and/or contained a defect which could 
create a substantial product hazard. This knowing violation of the 
reporting requirements in section 15(b) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2064(b), 
is a violation of section 19(a)(4) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2068(a)(4) 
and subjects the firm to civil penalties under section 20 of the CPSA, 
15 U.S.C. 2069.

Response of Gund

    6. Gund denies each and every staff allegation with respect to its 
Gundmobiles. Gund specifically denies that:
    (a) Its Gundmobiles were defective;
    (b) It introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate 
commerce Gundmobiles that were banned hazardous substances under 16 CFR 
1500.18(a)(9) and Part 1501;
    (c) It violated sections 4 (a) and (c) of the FHSA, 15 U.S.C. 1263 
(a) and (c) and it is, therefore, subject to civil penalties under 
section 5(c) of the FHSA, 15 U.S.C. 1264(c);
    (d) It failed to notify the Commission in a timely manner that its 
products contain a defect that could create a substantial product 
hazard and that it violated the reporting requirements of section 15(b) 
of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2064(b) thereby violating section 19(a)(4) of 
the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2068(a)(4) thereby subjecting it to civil penalties 
under Section 20 of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2069.

Agreement of the Parties

    7. The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter under the 
Consumer Product Safety Act, 15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq. (CPSA), and the 
Federal Hazardous Substances Act, 15 U.S.C. 1261 et seq. (FHSA).
    8. This Agreement settles the allegations of the staff and does not 
constitute an admission by Respondent that it violated the law, or a 
finding of fact or law by the Commission with respect to any of the 
staff's allegations.
    9. This Agreement becomes effective only upon its final acceptance 
by the Commission and service of the incorporated Order upon 
Respondent.
    10. Respondent waives any rights to a formal hearing, and any 
findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding the staff 
allegations. Respondent waives any right to seek judicial review or 
otherwise challenge or contest the validity of the Commission's Order.
    11. For purposes of section 6(b) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2055(b), 
this matter shall be treated as though a Complaint had issued, and the 
Commission may publicize the terms of the Settlement Agreement and 
Order.
    12. This Agreement may be used in interpreting the Order. 
Agreements, understandings, representations or interpretations made 
outside of this Settlement Agreement and Order may not be used to vary 
or contradict its terms.
    13. The provisions of this Settlement Agreement and Order shall 
apply to Gund, Inc. and its successors and assigns.
    14. Upon provisional acceptance of this Agreement by the 
Commission, the Commission will place this Settlement Agreement and 
Order on the public record and publish it in the Federal Register in 
accordance with the procedures in 16 CFR 1118.20 (e) through (h). If 
the Commission does not receive any requests not to accept the 
Agreement within 15 days of such publication, the Agreement shall be 
deemed finally accepted and the Final Order shall issue on the 16th 
day.
    15. Upon final acceptance of this Agreement, the Commission shall 
issue the attached Order.

    Dated: August 15, 1994.

    For Respondent Gund.
Bruce Raiffe,
President, Gund, Inc.

    Dated: September 6, 1994.

    For the staff.
Eric L. Stone,
Trial Attorney.
David Schmeltzer,
Assistant Executive Director, Office of Compliance and Enforcement.

Order

I.

    Upon consideration of the Settlement Agreement between the staff 
and Respondent, and it appearing the Settlement Agreement is in the 
public interest, it is
    Ordered, That the Settlement Agreement be, and hereby is, 
accepted; and it is
    Further ordered, that Respondent shall pay to the U.S. Treasury 
a civil penalty in the amount of ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND 
DOLLARS ($150,000) in two installment payments of seventy-five 
thousand dollars ($75,000.00) each, over a 12 month period after 
service of this final Order upon Respondent. Respondent shall pay 
the first installment within 20 days of service, and the second 
installment of $75,000.00 within 365 days after service of the Final 
Order. Upon the failure of Respondent to make a payment, or upon the 
making of a late payment, the entire amount of the civil penalty 
shall be due and payable, and interest on the outstanding balance 
shall accrue and be paid at the federal legal rate of interest under 
the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 1961 (a) and (b).

    Provisionally accepted and Provisional Order issued on the 14th 
day of October, 1994.

    By Order of the Commission.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 94-25966 Filed 10-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-M