Hill Sportswear fined $100,000
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) claims California-based Hill Sportswear has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $100,000. The penalty settlement follows CPSC allegations that the company knowingly failed to report to the commission immediately, as required by federal law, that children’s hooded sweatshirts it manufactured and sold featured drawstrings at the neck.
According to the CPSC, children’s upper outerwear with drawstrings, including sweatshirts, poses a strangulation hazard to children which can result in serious injury or death. It alleges that in November 2008, a three-year-old boy died in Fresno, California, when the drawstring on his Hill Sportswear hooded sweatshirt reportedly became stuck on a playground set, strangling him. Hill Sportswear and the CPSC announced a recall of the sweatshirts in February 2009.
