Personal Injury Law

Window Coverings Recalled After 3 Strangulation Deaths

By Greg Webb

Because three children have been strangled on product cords, millions of window coverings are being recalled by six companies: Lewis Hyman, Pottery Barn Kids, IKEA, Lutron, Vertical Land and Victoria Classics. Some of the coverings were also sold at Target and Expo Design Center stores. Two of the deaths were attributed to Lewis Hyman products; the company has since recalled 4.2 million roll-up blinds with plastic slats, sold across the United States from 1999 through 2003 for $6 to $20, and 600,000 Woolrich Roman shades, sold at Target from 2006 through 2008 for $25 to $43. The other death was attributed to a product manufactured by Vertical Land Inc., which also recalled thousands of blinds and shades that were sold in its Florida stores from 1992 to 2006 for $60 to $100.

Many other stores have followed suit in response to the deaths. Pottery Barn Kids/Williams-Sonoma Inc. recalled 85,000 Roman shades, which were sold at Pottery Barn Kids from 2003 to 2007 for $30 to $60. IKEA recalled 120,000 Melina Roman blinds, sold from 2006 to 2008 for $20 to $40. About 245,000 Lutron Shading Solutions fabric roller shades are also being recalled. Distributed by Lutron Electronics Co., the products were sold at specialty dealers and Expo Design Centers nationwide from 2000 through April 2009 for $200 to $2,000. Finally, Victoria Classics has recalled about 163,000 Roman shades in two styles -- thermal sailcloth and matchstick bamboo -- from Target, which were sold from September 2008 to June 2009 for $15 to $40.

Full post as published by Charlottesville Personal Injury Lawyer on September 07, 2009 (boomark / email).