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DOJ Files Lawsuit Against Stanley Black & Decker for Safety Violations

Overview of the Lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a civil lawsuit against Stanley Black & Decker, a well-known Connecticut-based tool manufacturer, citing the company’s failure to timely report potentially dangerous defects in their tools. This action raises significant concerns regarding consumer safety and compliance with federal regulations.

Allegations in the Complaint

The DOJ’s complaint asserts that Stanley Black & Decker "knowingly failed to immediately report to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) vital information about hazardous defects or unreasonable safety risks connected to certain utility bars and miter saws." This negligence not only jeopardizes consumer safety but also undermines public trust in the effectiveness of regulatory systems designed to protect individuals from potential harm.

Violation of Consumer Product Safety Act

The lawsuit indicates serious violations of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), which mandates that companies notify the CPSC when their products pose significant safety risks. The CPSA is crucial for maintaining safety standards and ensuring that companies act swiftly when hazards are identified. The DOJ highlights that Stanley Black & Decker’s delays have impeded regulatory measures aimed at safeguarding consumers.

Delayed Reporting of Hazard Incidents

The DOJ claims that Stanley Black & Decker postponed reporting multiple incidents of hazards, thereby preventing regulators from intervening in a timely manner to protect consumers. Such delays could ultimately exacerbate safety risks and lead to more severe injuries.

Consumer Reports Ignored

According to the lawsuit, the tool manufacturer received "numerous reports" from concerned consumers and retailers soon after launching utility bars in 2015. Users had reported that these utility bars were prone to breaking during use, posing a risk of serious injuries as they snapped back unexpectedly. Alarmingly, the company is accused of not reporting these defects until four years later in 2019.

Miter Saws Under Scrutiny

The concerns regarding Stanley Black & Decker are not limited to utility bars. The complaint also highlights significant issues with the company’s miter saws. The DOJ asserts that between 2019 and 2022, Stanley Black & Decker received hundreds of consumer reports detailing malfunctions, particularly with the rear protective guards and plastic deflectors of the saws. Many of these reports included accounts of lacerations to consumers’ faces and fingers, emphasizing the dangers associated with their products. Yet, the complaint charges that these issues were not reported to the CPSC until 2022.

legal Consequences Sought by the DOJ

In response to these alarming violations, the DOJ is pursuing monetary penalties and legal actions designed to prevent Stanley Black & Decker from committing future violations of the CPSA. This legal move underscores the government’s commitment to enforcing consumer protection laws and holding companies accountable for disregarding them.

Commitment to Consumer Safety

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the DOJ’s Civil Division reaffirmed the government’s dedication to safeguarding the American public. He stated, "The Justice Department, together with CPSC, is committed to enforcing consumer protection statutes protecting Americans from hazardous products." His insistence that companies must report safety issues immediately reflects the urgency of the situation and the potential risks consumers face when companies fail to comply.

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