Posted: June 20, 2014
Attorneys from the law firm of Eisbrouch & Marsh are now offering no-charge “Nap Nanny” lawsuit consultations to parents whose children have been injured or killed because of the recalled infant recliner.
Although only 165,000 “Nap Nanny” recliners were sold between 2009 and 2012, a disproportionately high number of children were harmed in that time. So far there have been six reported deaths associated with the product; the most recent victim was an 8-month-old girl from New Jersey who fell between the Nap Nanny recliner and the crib bumper and suffocated while strapped in.
In addition to the deaths, there have also been 70 reported instances in which children fell out of the recliner. Other incidents may yet be reported in associated with the product.
Two “Nap Nanny” recliner recalls
The “Nap Nanny” recliner was recalled in 2010 after only a year on the market when the first strangulation death of an infant was reported. Baby Matters LLC, the manufacturer, redesigned the product and put it back on the market. However, in the wake of three additional infant strangulation deaths, the recliner was recalled a second time in 2012. At that time, the manufacturer refused to removed the product from store shelves, arguing that the product was safe when used as intended.
With reports of a fifth infant death, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sued Baby Matters in order to force them to comply with the recall.
Safety officials from the CPSC argued that the redesigned product did not solve problems with the recliner’s straps that had caused the strangulation deaths and that the recliner was a dangerous product.
The company went out of business in 2012, the same year as the second recall and lawsuit, arguing that they had tested the products and made changes, thus doing everything possible.
CPSC urges parents to discontinue using the Nap Nanny
In the wake of the sixth reported “Nap Nanny” death, the CPSC is reminding parents to discontinue using any Nap Nanny recliners that they already own. They are also urging parents not to buy the recliners in secondary markets such as garage or yard sales.
The CPSC also notes that it is illegal to sell recalled products in such venues. Recalled versions of the product include the “Nap Nanny” Generation 1 or Generation 2 models, as well as the “Chill” recliner, all of which have flawed straps that pose the risk of falls and suffocation.
Nap Nanny lawsuit ends with settlement for first plaintiff
Plaintiff Brian Thiel brought the first Nap Nanny lawsuit against Baby Matters in 2010 after the death of his 4-month-old daughter as a result of strangulation in connection to the recliner.
Nap Nanny lawyers who represented him negotiated an undisclosed settlement with the company. Though Theil is enjoined from speaking at length due to the terms of his settlement, he did say that had he been aware of a previous infant death associated with the infant recliner, he certainly would not have purchased one for his daughter.
Nap Nanny lawyers from Eisbrouch & Marsh now evaluating cases
New Jersey “Nap Nanny” lawyers from Eisbrouch & Marsh are now evaluating cases of parents whose babies have been harmed due to the infant recliner.
Our product liability attorneys offer complimentary, no-obligation evaluations in order to assess the merits of each potential case. We are standing by to answer any questions parents may have about filing an infant product recall lawsuit. Please call toll-free at 201-342-5545 to set up an appointment.
Resources
- ABC News, Feds Urge Parents to Stop Using ‘Nap Nanny’ After Sixth Death http://abcnews.go.com/US/sixth-baby-dies-recalled-infant-recliner/story?id=23970287
- USA Today, Feds File Lawsuit Against Nap Nanny Maker http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/12/05/nap-nanny-baby-product-lawsuit/1748321/
