Manufacturer of deer stand pays penalty for late reporting after recalling deer stands
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Manufacturer of tree stands have been fined by the U. S. Consumer Products Safety Commission for failure to report defects in a timely manner.
In North Carolina these potentially dangerous devises are commonly called "deer stands" because they are used by deer hunters to hunt deer. The hunter uses these deer stands as a seat in a tree high up it the tree. When an unsuspecting deer walks by near the tree the hunter shoots the deer.
The danger of falling from high up in a tree with a loaded rifle or shot gun is obvious. Hunters sit it these deer stands for hours while waiting for a deer to come by.
Each year hundreds of hunters are injured in connection with the use of deer stands.
According to an announcement by Mark G. Rupell, CEO of Ardisam Inc. which is a company that manufactures lawn and garden products and outdoor sporting goods, a settlement has been reached in a $1.6 million product liability action initiated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Mark G. Ruppel, CEO, Ardisam, Inc., a manufacturer of lawn and garden products and outdoor sporting goods headquartered in Cumberland, announced Tuesday that a $1,600,000 civil action initiated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been settled. Ruppel noted, "The settlement is for considerably less than $1,600,000."
According to Ardisam's legal counsel, the U.S. filed the civil action against the company on July 26, 2007. It was alleged that Ardisam did not report in a timely manner to the CPSC that certain tree stands the company produced and sold contained defects that could make the usage hazardous or create a risk of personal injury or death
Ardisam, which is headquartered in Cumberland, Wisconsin, reported the defect in April of 2004 and conducted a voluntary recall, with the approval of the CPSC, in July of 2004. The government's suit said that the company should have notified the CPSC of the defect sooner than they did. Initially, Ardisam contested the suit, but agreed to a full settlement in late December via payment of a stipulated penalty.
For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.