As we have reported in previous posts, companies in Pennsylvania and throughout the country are required to report product defects that could cause harm to a user to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission immediately upon learning of the defect. Many businesses fail to meet this requirement and are assessed civil penalties as a result.

The CPSC announced earlier this week that Nordica USA will pay $214,000 for failing to report defective binding plates on some of their skis. According to the CPSC, the business received around 200 warranty claims involving cracking or breaking of binding plates in the fall of 2008. The model involved is XBi ALU Skis. Despite this knowledge, Nordica USA reportedly did not inform the CPSC of the potentially harmful defect. The business denies that it violated the law on purpose. The commission has provisionally accepted the penalty agreement.

A recall of around 4,500 pairs of the XBi ALU skis was made jointly in early 2009 by the CPSC and the business. The skis were sold throughout the U.S. for over two years beginning in August 2006. They retailed for between $800 and $1,000.

There have not been any reports of injuries related to the cracking binding plates. Had any injuries been reported however, the injured party would potentially be eligible to receive compensation for the harm inflicted. Known as a product liability lawsuit, these type of cases are often complex. Accordingly, when someone is injured by a defective product it is important to consult an experienced product liability attorney.

Source: Boston Globe, "Nordica USA agrees to penalty for defective skis," Associated Press, Oct. 6, 2011