The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced that HSN LP (previously known as Home Shopping Network), of St. Petersburg, Fla., has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $875,000. The civil penalty settles allegations that HSN LP failed to report in a timely manner, as required by federal law, serious injuries and hazards with the Welbilt Electronic Pressure Cookers.

CPSC alleged that from September 2001 through about October 2004, HSN received at least 25 reports from consumers indicating that the pressure cookers contained a defect that could create a substantial product hazard or that the pressure cookers created an unreasonable risk of serious injury. CPSC alleged that HSN failed to immediately report this information as required by the Consumer Product Safety Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 2064(b), which requires manufacturers, distributors and retailers to immediately report to CPSC information about products that could create a substantial risk of injury to the public or that create an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. Failure to provide the information immediately is a prohibited act under the Consumer Product Safety Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec 2068(a)(4).

In agreeing to settle this matter, HSN denied CPSC’s allegations that it violated the Consumer Product Safety Act.

The Welbilt Electronic Pressure Cookers were recalled in June of 2005, four years after HSN received the first report from consumers indicating that the pressure cookers contained a defect that could create a substantial product hazard or that the pressure cookers created an unreasonable risk of serious injury.

Posted January 2008.

Labels: CPSC fine, Home Shopping Network, Welbilt Electronic Pressure Cooker