Reebok to pay record $1 million fine in lead poisoning case
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Mar 20 2008 at 4:28 PM
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WASHINGTON (AP) - Reebok International Ltd, an athletic shoe and apparel maker has agreed to pay a record $1 million civil penalty to settle a case that alleged a lead-laced trinket given away with sneakers led to the death of a Massachusetts boy in March 2006.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, this is the largest Federal Hazardous Substances Act violation in history. The previous record of $600,000 was paid in 2005 by Winco Fireworks for importing dangerous fireworks from China.

The issue is related to the heart-shaped charm bracelets given away by Reebok. The pendants, made in China, were given as free gifts with the purchase of children's shoes. Approximately 300,000 of them were sold between May 2004 and March 2006. Authorities believe that the four-year-old boy from Minneapolis died after swallowing a bracelet because it had high lead content.

 “This penalty makes it a point that the CPSC won’t allow anybody to put children’s safety at risk. Preventing dangerous metal jewelry from reaching the hands of kids is our agency’s priority,” CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord said.

It is not clear that if the victim’s family will get anything out of this.

Reebok denied violating the federal law in the settlement agreement signed last week.

Lead poisoning can be deadly in high doses. It can cause permanent brain damage in children and fetuses.

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