Legal News

On July 14, the CPSC and Pottery Barn Kids, a division of Williams-Sonoma, Inc, announced a recall on drop side cribs. This voluntary recall will affect about 82,000 units sold by the company. Consumers are asked to immediately stop using the recalled product.

As with the other drop side cribs previously recalled by the CPSC, these cribs? drop-sides can detach when hardware breaks, creating a space into which a young child can become entrapped, which can lead to suffocation. Drop side incidents also occur due to incorrect assembly and with age-related wear and tear. CPSC and Pottery Barn Kids have received 36 reports of drop sides that have malfunctioned or detached.

The recall affects all Pottery Barn Kids drop-side cribs regardless of the model number. "Pottery Barn Kids" is printed on a label attached to the crib headboard or footboard. The cribs were sold exclusively through the Pottery Barn Kids catalog, www.potterybarnkids.com and at Pottery Barn Kids retail stores nationwide, from January 1999 through March 2010, for between $300 and $600.

The Pottery Barn recall comes after the CPSC announced a major seven manufacturer recall of more than two million drop side cribs.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs, inspect the hardware to make sure it is not broken, and contact Pottery Barn Kids to receive a free fixed-gate conversion kit that will immobilize the drop side. For additional information, consumers can contact Pottery Barn Kids at (877) 804-3847 between 7 a.m. and midnight, 7 days a week, or visit the firm?s website at www.potterybarnkids.com.

The CPSC would also remind parents not to use any crib with missing, broken, or loose parts. Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy.

Related Resources:

• Pottery Barn Kids Recalls to Repair Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards (CPSC)
• Pottery Barn recalls drop-side cribs, U.S. plans ban (Reuters)
• CPSC Announces Major Drop Side Crib Recall (FindLaw's Common Law)
• Sen. Gillibrand Introduces Legislation Prohibiting The Drop Side Crib (FindLaw's Common Law)
• Injuries from Dangerous or Defective Products (provided by Law Offices of Michael P. Burakoff, P.A.)
• Types of Defective Products (provided by Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd, Kinney & Wilt, PSC)