Upon having a child most parents cannot imagine doing anything that would harm the little being. Accordingly, they go out of their way to keep them safe in nearly every situation, using only products believed to be safe for babies. Sadly, sometimes the products available for use with babies are not safe however, and cause injuries to the young children. In the worst situations, death ensues. This was the unfortunate case for a Pennsylvania family whose infant died while being carried in a "Slingrider" manufactured by Infantino.

When a child is injured or dies as a result of a defective or dangerous product, his or her parent may file a products liability lawsuit to try to obtain monetary damages. These lawsuits are often complicated both emotionally and legally. The Pennsylvania family of the child who dies is likely all too aware of this. They initially filed a lawsuit against Infantino as well as several retailers who sold the baby carrier in the summer of June 2010.

The lawsuit alleged that the retailers were negligent in selling the baby carrier that they knew or had reason to know was dangerous. In addition it asserts that the retailers did not let those who bought the carrier that it was dangerous.

While the retailers were eventually dismissed from the case, the manufacturer is still a defendant in the case. Since then the case has been removed from state court to federal court and back to state court again. It is currently proceeding in a state level court in Pennsylvania.

As is the case in any legal proceeding, the outcome is unclear. If successful, the lawsuit will provide the parents of the lost child monetary damages for their loss. Even if it is not, legal action such as this is important as it holds manufacturers responsible for the safety of their products.

Source: The Pennsylvania Record, "In infant death product liability case, federal judge grants remand to Phila. Common Pleas Court," Jon Campisi, March 6, 2013