HSN to Pay $16 Million Fine for not Disclosing Defect
Many of us enjoy shopping from the comfort of home. For many people, this means online shopping, but for some, it may mean turning on the TV and checking out the Home Shopping Network (HSN). This was how people shopped from home decades ago, buying items from clothing to jewelry to household appliances.
But buying products from HSN can still be risky. In fact, a clothes steamer was deemed to be defective, causing injury. However, HSN waited too long to disclose the defect to consumers and is now being ordered to pay a $16 million fine.
HSN failed to disclose a dangerous defect in 5.4 million clothes steamers even though the company received dozens of reports regarding injuries as well as numerous complaints. The steamers were not recalled until 2021 — almost a decade after the defects were first discovered.
HSN, which is based in St. Petersburg, agreed to settle charges that it failed to immediately report to the Consumer Product Safety Commission that millions of the Joy Mangano-brand “My Little Steamer” and “My Little Steamer Go Mini” products were defective. The steamers posed an “unreasonable risk of serious injury.”
From 2012 to 2019, HSN received information about the products and learned they were unsafe. By the time HSN filed a report with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, it had received more than 1,000 reports, including roughly 400 complaints of the steamers spraying hot water, 700 more reports regarding leaks, and almost 100 reports of injury. There were also 29 insurance claims alleging burns, scarring, hearing loss, and other serious injuries.
There were also hundreds of negative online reviews of the steamers. There were approximately 500 complaints of the steamers expelling hot water and another 150 complaints of leaks. There were 87 reports of injury.
The steamers were not recalled until May 2021. By then, HSN had received 227 reports of hot water spraying or leaking, with 106 of those incidents leading to burn injuries. The recalled steamers were sold in various places, including on the HSN television network as well as online and in stores across the country.
HSN is being blasted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for waiting so long to take action. The company let many years lapse before informing the commission about what it knew and the dangers involved.
However, HSN states that the health and safety of its customers is a high priority. The company claims that it voluntarily recalled the garment steamers and has been cooperating with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today
We expect that the products we buy are safe for everyday, regular use. When there are issues, manufacturers and retailers need to take action and recall the defective products.
Injured by a product? Get sound advice and legal help from a Tampa product liability attorney from Moore Law. We’ll help protect your legal rights. Fill out the online form or call 813-510-5400 to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
cbsnews.com/news/hsn-product-recall-steamers-home-shopping-network/
