Johnson & Johnson Crib Toys Case Settled

Strangulation

Johnson & Johnson Crib Toys Case Settled NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 23, 1986 Release # 86-065 Johnson & Johnson Crib Toys Case Settled Washington, DC -- The U.S. Consumer Product-Safety Commission and Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company announced today that the company and the Commission staff had entered into a consent agreement resolving a pending CPSC action relating to three of the company's toys -- Soft Triplets, Piglet Crib Gym, and Triplets marching Band. These toys have a common design consisting of three cloth dolls held together by short pieces of elastic with a plastic ring at each end. In a complaint filed May 30, 1986, the Commission staff alleged that when the toys were used as crib toys, babies could get caught and possibly strangle themselves on the toys or on strings used to hang them across cribs and playpens. The Commission had received reports that the toy or strings used to hang it in a crib had been involved in two deaths, one in October 1984 and one in December 1985. Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company contended that the toys were safe when used as directed, and that instructions were provided with the toys warning of this risk of strangulation. Today's settlement puts I an end to this litigation. As part of the agreement settling the suit and in accordance with its long-standing policy, Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company is offering consumers a refund of the purchase price for these toys when returned to the company. To obtain the refund, consumers should either call the company toll free at 1-800-262-2232 or return the toys directly to: Soft Triplets Refund Offer Stratmar Station PO Box 7422 Bridgeport, Connecticut 06650 (Include your name and address) Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company will be announcing the refund in notices in Parents, American Baby, and Baby Talk magazines in posters sent to pediatricians and retailers, and in letters sent directly to all known mail order customers of the toys. About 1.6 million Soft Triplets toys were distributed from 1979 through March of 1986 nationwide at a cost of about $6.50. Approximately 63,000 Piglet Crib Gyms were sold from 1982 to 1984 and 4,000 Triplets, Marching Band toys were sold 1985 through mid-March L985, both at retail stores for an average of $8.00. For more information on the refund offer, consumers can call Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company at the number indicated above or the CPSC's toll-free number at 800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is (301) 595-7054.

Johnson & Johnson Soft Triplets, Piglet Crib Gym, and Triplets marching Band Crib Toys