Whalen Furniture to Pay $725,000 Civil Penalty for Failing to Report Defective Children’s Beds

JANUARY 30, 2013 Release Number: 13-108
Toddler Died When Lid of Bed’s Toy Chest Fell on Him

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Whalen Furniture Manufacturing Inc., d/b/a Bayside Furnishings, of San Diego, Calif., has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $725,000. The penalty agreement has been provisionally accepted by the Commission in a 3 to 0 vote.

The settlement agreement resolves CPSC staff allegations that the firm knowingly failed to report to CPSC immediately, as required by federal law, a defect involving two models of its boat-style children's beds with toy chests.  The two models included LaJolla boat beds and Pirates of the Caribbean twin trundle beds. The beds include a toy chest with a 20 lb. lid.  The lid supports on the toy chests fail to prevent the lid from closing too quickly, posing an entrapment and strangulation hazard to young children. Whalen sold the defective children's beds between January 2006 and May 2008.

From the CPSC

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