The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced that Best Buy Co., Inc., of Richfield, Minnesota has agreed to pay a $3.8 million civil penalty for allegedly distributing and selling about 600 previously recalled consumer products in violation of Federal law. (To read the settlement agreement, click here.)
The agreement settles charges that Best Buy Co. knowingly sold and distributed 16 different recalled products during a five year period from 2010 through 2015. As also described by the CPSC, it charged that Best Buy failed to implement adequate procedures to accurately identify, quarantine, and prevent the sales of the recalled products across all of its supply channels. The CPSC also charged that Best Buy, in some cases, failed to permanently block product codes due to inaccurate information that signaled that the recalled product was not in inventory. At other times, the blocked codes were reactivated prematurely, and in a few cases, overridden.
The CPSC also alleged that sales of recalled products continued even after Best Buy told the CPSC that the company had put measures into place to reduce the risk of sales of recalled products.
The recalled products included:
- Toshiba Satellite Notebook Computers, recalled on September 2, 2010;
- iSi North America Twist ‘n Sparkle Beverage Carbonation Systems, recalled on July 5, 2012;
- LG Electronics Gas Dryers, recalled on August 21, 2012;
- GE Dishwashers, recalled on August 9, 2012;
- Canon EOS Rebel T4i Digital Cameras, recalled on August 14, 2012;
- GE Profile Front Load Washers, recalled on October 3, 2012;
- Sauder Woodworking Gruga Office Chairs, recalled on November 7, 2012;
- LG Electronics Electric Ranges, recalled on November 8, 2012;
- LG Electronics Top-Loading Washing Machines, recalled on December 18, 2012;
- Samsonite Dual-Wattage Travel Converters, recalled on February 12, 2013;
- Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000 Subwoofers, recalled on March 28, 2013;
- Gree Dehumidifiers, recalled on September 12, 2013;
- Frigidaire Professional Blenders, recalled on September 19, 2013;
- Schneider Electric APC Surge Arrest Surge Protectors, recalled on October 3, 2013;
- Coby 32-inch Flat Screen Televisions, recalled on December 12, 2013; and
- Whirlpool Jenn-Air Wall Ovens, recalled on July 29, 2015.
Attorney Pamela Borgess, the founder of Borgess Law, LLC, has successfully represented multiple clients who have sustained serious injury or whose loved ones have died as a result of defective and recalled products. For more information or to speak with Attorney Borgess, contact Borgess Law, LLC at (567) 455-5955. You can also contact Borgess Law, LLC by submitting an online inquiry. Borgess Law, LLC never charges a fee for an initial consultation.