|
In 1983, a 13-month-old baby was found hanged to death on the
headboard of a crib made by Bassett Furniture. The girl's head
was caught in a cut-out between the top corner post and a blanket
roll, lifting her feet off the mattress.
A jury awarded the girl's parents compensatory and punitive damages.
Bassett had stopped producing the cribs, which were associated
with the deaths of nine children, in 1977. However, the company
did not adequately notify crib owners. It sent modification kits
to stores rather than to consumers and had refused a Consumer
Product Safety Commission demand for a national press release,
for which it was fined. This verdict prompted the company to speed
up the recall and public notice.
Crusan v. Bassett Furniture Co., Cal., Sacramento Super. Ct.,
June 11, 1986.
|
