Reebok To Pay $1M Two Years After Child Dies Of Lead Poisoning

Reebok To Pay $1M To Government Following Child's Death From Lead Poisoning

Reebok will pay the federal government $1M "to settle allegations that it violated the Federal Hazardous Substances Act" after a Minneapolis boy died from lead poisoning after swallowing part of a charm bracelet given away with a pair of the company's shoes, according to Sarah Lemagie of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today will announce the fine, the "largest of its kind levied against a company" since the agency's establishment in '72. Attorney James Heuer said that the family of 4-year-old Jarnell Brown, who died in February '06, "reached a confidential settlement with Reebok approved by Hennepin County [MN] District Court" in December '07. No other children were hurt by the bracelets, which Reebok recalled voluntarily. Heuer said that Reebok execs and lawyers "were 'compassionate and professional' about the recall." He added that Reebok "issued a quick public apology and did not force Jarnell's family into extensive litigation." Heuer: "Most corporations, when something like this happens, get up and deny, deny, deny." Reebok reps could not be reached for comment yesterday (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/18).