As Published By
ALAN S. RIPKA, ESQUIRE
Roman Shade Cords Kills Boy
On November 10, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Hanover Direct Inc. recalled about 495,000 Roman shades and 28,500 roller/roll-up blinds after receiving a report of a boy who died by hanging from the product’s cord. Selling these dangerous products renders their manufacturers liable for the serious injuries suffered by children who become entangled in the cords, says Alan Ripka, Esquire.
A 22-month-old boy in Cedar Falls, Iowa was found hanging by his neck from the outer pull cords of a Roman shade in May 2010. The outer pull cords were knotted at the bottom. His father untangled him, but the child died later in the hospital.
Hanover Direct Inc. of Weekhawken, New Jersey is also known as Domestications, The Company Store, and Company Kids. The affected shades and blinds were sold at Hanover Direct/Domestications, the Company Store/Company Kids, online at www.domestications.com and www.thecompanystore.com, and through catalog sales nationwide from January 1996 through October 2009. This recall involves all styles of Roman shades with inner cords, all styles of roll-up blinds, and roller blinds that do not have a tension device. A tension device should be attached to the continuous loop bead chain or continuous loop pull cord and installed into the wall or floor.
This current recall expands a previous 2008 Hanover Direct Inc. recall of Roman shades. Hanover Direct/Domestications has added its name to the retailers joining the voluntary recall announced in December 2009 of all Roman shades and roll-up blinds. The previous recall was prompted by a report that a 2-year-old boy from Ocean View, Delaware became entangled in the inner cords of a Roman shade. In that incident, the boy’s parents removed the cord, and fortunately no permanent injuries were sustained.
If your or that of a loved one has been injured by becoming caught in the cords of roman shades or blinds, you may be entitled to compensation. Alan Ripka and his professional team of lawyers can evaluate your situation and determine the next steps to gain justice for you and your family. Alan Ripka has fought against all kinds of companies in other matters and will fight for you if I believe you have a potential case for medical malpractice, products liability, or personal injury. I am prepared to go to court and have a trial if necessary. Please fill out the form and submit or call and ask for me, Alan Ripka. Please specifically mention that you read the blog when contacting me.
