Posted on Monday, January 2nd, 2017 at 8:56 pm
Between August 2011 and January 2014, Petsmart received at least 19 reports of fish bowls cracking or shattering from normal use. Serious injuries occurred in 12 of these cases, including severe lacerations and torn tendons that required surgery or stitches. Petsmart sold these fish bowls in their stores from March 2010 through September 2013, for $20 apiece.
After they stopped selling the bowls, and in response to these reports of injury, Petsmart recalled around 10,000 bowls in April of 2014. Then, more than a year later in November of 2015, they expanded the recall to include an additional 81,000 bowls.
What Petsmart failed to do, was report these defects to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is required by federal law. The CPSC conducted an investigation, and found that Petsmart had failed to report the correct amount and distribution time-frame for the defective bowls. This miscalculation was why the initial recall was expanded. As punishment, Petsmart has agreed to pay $4.25 million civil fine and work with better compliance alongside the CPSC to ensure the safety of their customers and their pets.
If you have suffered an injury because a defective product didn’t work as it should have, you may be eligible for to compensation. The financial and emotional burdens that accompany injuries like this are never deserved when caused by a negligent party. To learn more about what legal strategies the experienced attorneys at McCutchen Napurano - The Law Firm can use when fighting your case, call (479) 783-0036.
