[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 4, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23745-23747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10386]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

[CPSC Docket No. 10-C0003]


Jo-Ann Stores, Inc., Provisional Acceptance of a Settlement 
Agreement and Order

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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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). 
Published below is a provisionally-accepted Settlement Agreement with 
Jo-Ann Stores, Inc., containing a civil penalty of $50,000.00.

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 May 19, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to comment on this Settlement Agreement 
should send written comments to the Comment 10-C0003, Office of the 
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, 
Room 820, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4408.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean R. Ward, Trial Attorney, Division 
of Compliance, Office of the General Counsel, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4408; 
telephone (301) 504-7602.

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

    Dated: April 28, 2010.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary.

In the Matter of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.

Settlement Agreement

    1. In accordance with 16 CFR 1118.20, Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (``Jo-
Ann'') and the staff (``Staff'') of the United States Consumer Product 
Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or the ``Commission'') enter into this 
Settlement Agreement (``Agreement''). The Agreement and the 
incorporated attached Order (``Order'') settle the Staff's allegations 
set forth below.

Parties

    2. The Commission is an independent federal regulatory agency 
established pursuant to the Consumer Product

[[Page 23746]]

Safety Act, 15 U.S.C. 2051-2089 (``CPSA''). The Commission is 
responsible for the enforcement of the CPSA.
    3. Jo-Ann is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of 
the State of Ohio, with its principal offices located in Hudson, Ohio. 
At all times relevant hereto, Jo-Ann imported, offered for sale and 
sold various children's products.

Staff Allegations

    4. Jo-Ann imported various Robbie DuckyTM children's 
products including the Kids Watering Cans (``Watering Cans'') from 
February 2007 through August 2007, the children's toy rakes, hoes, 
brooms and spades (``Garden Tools'') from January 2007 through 
September 2007, and Children's Water Globes (``Water Globes'') in 
September 2007 (collectively, ``Robbie Ducky products''). Jo-Ann sold 
the Robbie Ducky products at its retail stores nationwide during those 
periods for between $5 and $10 per unit.
    5. The Robbie Ducky products are ``consumer product(s),'' and, at 
all times relevant hereto, Jo-Ann was a ``manufacturer'' and 
``retailer'' of those consumer product(s), which were ``distributed in 
commerce,'' as those terms are defined in CPSA sections 3(a)(3), (5), 
(8), (11) and (13), 15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(3), (5), (8), (11) and (13).
    6. The Robbie Ducky products are articles intended to be entrusted 
to or for use by children, and, therefore, are subject to the 
requirements of the Commission's Ban of Lead-Containing Paint and 
Certain Consumer Products Bearing Lead-Containing Paint, 16 CFR part 
1303 (the ``Lead-Paint Ban''). Under the Lead-Paint Ban, toys and other 
children's articles must not bear or contain ``lead-containing paint,'' 
defined as paint or other surface coating materials whose lead content 
is more than 0.06 percent of the weight of the total nonvolatile 
content of the paint or the weight of the dried paint film. 16 CFR 
1303.2(b)(1).\1\
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    \1\ At the time of the alleged violations stated in this 
Settlement Agreement, the permissible limit of 0.06 was in effect 
for the Lead-Paint Ban. As of August 14, 2009, the limit was amended 
to 0.009 percent pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1278a(f)(1).
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    7. On August 24, 2007, Jo-Ann reported to CPSC that it had 
commissioned an independent laboratory to conduct testing of samples of 
the Watering Cans for the presence of lead in their surface coatings. 
The test results demonstrated that a sample Watering Can contained lead 
in excess of the permissible 0.06 percent limit set forth in the Lead-
Paint Ban.
    8. On August 28, 2007, the Commission and Jo-Ann announced a 
consumer-level recall of about 6,000 units of the Watering Cans because 
``[t]he beak of the watering can contains lead in the paint, which 
violates the federal law prohibiting lead paint on children's toys. 
Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse 
health effects.''
    9. On September 14, 2007, Jo-Ann reported to CPSC that it had 
commissioned an independent laboratory to conduct testing of samples of 
the Garden Tools for the presence of lead in their surface coatings. 
The test results demonstrated that a sample of Garden Tools contained 
lead in excess of the permissible 0.06 percent limit set forth in the 
Lead-Paint Ban.
    10. On September 26, 2007, the Commission and Jo-Ann announced a 
consumer-level recall of about 16,000 Garden Tools because ``[s]urface 
paint on the handle of the rake can contain excessive levels of lead 
paint, violating the federal lead paint standard.'' This recall was 
expanded on October 25, 2007 to include an additional 97,000 units of 
children's leaf rakes, hoes, brooms and spades because these Garden 
Tools contained excessive levels of lead in violation of the Lead-Paint 
Ban.
    11. On November 14, 2007, Jo-Ann reported to CPSC that it had 
commissioned an independent laboratory to conduct testing of samples of 
the Water Globes for the presence of lead in their surface coatings. 
The test results demonstrated that a sample of Water Globes contained 
lead in excess of the permissible 0.06 percent limit set forth in the 
Lead-Paint Ban.
    12. On December 13, 2007, the Commission and Jo-Ann announced a 
consumer-level recall of about 60 Water Globes because ``[t]he painted 
base of the water globes contain excessive levels of lead, violating 
the federal lead paint standard.''
    13. Although Jo-Ann reported no incidents or injuries from the 
Robbie Ducky products, it failed to take adequate action to ensure that 
they did not bear or contain lead-containing paint, thereby creating a 
risk of lead poisoning and adverse health effects to children.
    14. The Robbie Ducky products constitute ``banned hazardous 
products'' under CPSA section 8 and the Lead-Paint Ban, 15 U.S.C. 2057 
and 16 CFR 1303.1(a)(1), 1303.4(b), in that they bear or contain paint 
or other surface coating materials whose lead content exceeds the 
permissible limit of 0.06 percent of the weight of the total 
nonvolatile content of the paint or the weight of the dried paint film.
    15. From January 2007 through September 2007, Jo-Ann sold, 
manufactured for sale, offered for sale, distributed in commerce, or 
imported into the United States, with respect to the Robbie Ducky 
products, in violation of section 19(a)(1) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 
2068(a)(1). Jo-Ann committed these prohibited acts ``knowingly,'' as 
that term is defined in section 20(d) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2069(d).
    16. Pursuant to section 20 of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2069, Jo-Ann is 
subject to civil penalties for the aforementioned violations.

Jo-Ann's Responsive Allegations

    17. Jo-Ann denies the Staff's allegations set forth above that Jo-
Ann knowingly violated the CPSA or any of its regulations. Jo-Ann 
believes that it reasonably relied upon its suppliers to manufacture 
products compliant with all applicable safety regulations.
    18. Jo-Ann alleges that, to the best of its knowledge at the time 
when the Robbie Ducky products were imported, offered for sale and sold 
by the firm, they complied with the requirements of the Lead-Paint Ban. 
Jo-Ann notified CPSC of the lead-containing paint problems associated 
with the Robbie Ducky products promptly upon discovering them. After 
promptly investigating the facts, Jo-Ann voluntarily conducted each of 
the three recalls in cooperation with CPSC.
    19. Jo-Ann has consistently acted in a cooperative manner with CPSC 
and engaged in corrective action without being so directed by either 
CPSC or by any third party.

Agreement of the Parties

    20. Under the CPSA, the Commission has jurisdiction over this 
matter and over Jo-Ann.
    21. The parties enter into the Agreement for settlement purposes 
only. The Agreement does not constitute an admission by Jo-Ann, nor 
does it constitute a determination by the Commission, that Jo-Ann has 
knowingly violated the CPSA.
    22. In settlement of the Staff's allegations set forth above, Jo-
Ann shall pay a civil penalty in the amount of fifty thousand dollars 
($50,000.00) within twenty (20) calendar days of service of the 
Commission's final Order accepting the Agreement. The payment shall be 
by check payable to the order of the United States Treasury.
    23. The Commission will not seek or initiate any enforcement action 
against Jo-Ann for civil penalties, based upon information known to 
CPSC through the

[[Page 23747]]

date of the final acceptance of this Agreement, for possible violations 
of the reporting requirements of section 15(b), 15 U.S.C. 2064(b), 
regarding any Robbie Ducky products. The Commission's agreement not to 
seek penalties as stated herein will not relieve Jo-Ann from the 
continuing duty to report to CPSC any new, additional or different 
information as required by CPSA section 15(b), 15 U.S.C. 2064(b) and 
the regulations at 16 CFR part 1115. Except as expressly provided 
herein, nothing in this Agreement is intended nor may be construed to 
preclude, limit, or otherwise reduce Jo-Ann's potential liabilities 
under any and all applicable law, statutory provisions, regulations, 
rules, standards, and/or bans enforced or administered by CPSC.
    24. Upon the Commission's provisional acceptance of the Agreement, 
the Agreement shall be placed on the public record and published in the 
Federal Register in accordance with the procedures set forth in 16 CFR 
1118.20(e). In accordance with 16 CFR 1118.20(f), if the Commission 
does not receive any written request not to accept the Agreement within 
fifteen (15) days, the Agreement shall be deemed finally accepted on 
the sixteenth (16th) day after the date it is published in the Federal 
Register.
    25. Upon the Commission's final acceptance of the Agreement and 
issuance of the final Order, Jo-Ann knowingly, voluntarily, and 
completely waives any rights it may have in this matter to the 
following: (1) An administrative or judicial hearing; (2) judicial 
review or other challenge or contest of the validity of the 
Commission's Order or actions; (3) a determination by the Commission of 
whether Jo-Ann failed to comply with the CPSA and its underlying 
regulations; (4) a statement of findings of fact and conclusions of 
law; and (5) any claims under the Equal Access to Justice Act.
    26. The Commission may publicize the terms of the Agreement and 
Order.
    27. The Agreement and Order shall apply to, and be binding upon, 
Jo-Ann and each of its successors and assigns.
    28. The Commission issues the Order under the provisions of the 
CPSA, and violation of the Order may subject those referenced in ] 27 
to appropriate legal action.
    29. The Agreement may be used in interpreting the Order. 
Understandings, agreements, representations, or interpretations apart 
from those contained in the Agreement and Order may not be used to vary 
or contradict its terms. The Agreement shall not be waived, amended, 
modified, or otherwise altered, except in a writing that is executed by 
the party against whom such waiver, amendment, modification, or 
alteration is sought to be enforced.
    30. If after the effective date hereof, any provision of the 
Agreement and Order is held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable 
under present or future laws effective during the terms of the 
Agreement and Order, such provision shall be fully severable. The 
balance of the Agreement and Order shall remain in full force and 
effect, unless the Commission and Jo-Ann agree that severing the 
provision materially affects the purpose of the Agreement and Order.

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.

    Dated: 1/13/10.

By:--------------------------------------------------------------------
David B. Goldston,
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Jo-Ann Stores, 
Inc., 5555 Darrow Road, Hudson, Ohio.

    Dated: 1/13/10.

By:--------------------------------------------------------------------
Joanne E. Mattiace, Esq.,
Law Offices of Joanne E. Mattiace, 58 Stroudwater Place, Westbrook, 
ME 04092-4044, Counsel for Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.

U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF

Cheryl A. Falvey,
General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel.

Ronald G. Yelenik,
Assistant General Counsel, Division of Compliance, Office of the 
General Counsel.

    Dated: 1/14/10.

By:--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sean R. Ward,
Trial Attorney, Division of Compliance, Office of the General 
Counsel.

In the Matter of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.

Order

    Upon consideration of the Settlement Agreement entered into between 
Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (``Jo-Ann'') and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety 
Commission (``Commission'') staff, and the Commission having 
jurisdiction over the subject matter and over Jo-Ann, and it appearing 
that the Settlement Agreement and Order are in the public interest, it 
is
    Ordered, that the Settlement Agreement be, and hereby is, accepted; 
and it is
    Further ordered, that Jo-Ann shall pay a civil penalty in the 
amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) within twenty (20) 
calendar days of service of the Commission's final Order accepting the 
Agreement. The payment shall be made by check payable to the order of 
the United States Treasury. Upon the failure of Jo-Ann to make any of 
the foregoing payments when due, interest on the unpaid amount shall 
accrue and be paid by Jo-Ann at the federal legal rate of interest set 
forth at 28 U.S.C. 1961(a) and (b).

    Provisionally accepted and provisional Order issued on the 28th 
day of April, 2010.

    By Order of the Commission.

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Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

[FR Doc. 2010-10386 Filed 5-3-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P