The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Lifetime Products Inc. has agreed to pay $800,000 civil penalty for not reporting a bolt on the stand's base that had caused numerous injuries.
According to the CPSC, Lifetime Products manufactured and distributed about 1.7 million portable basketball hoops nationwide between 1994 and May 2000. CPSC alleged between March 1999 and July 2001, Lifetime Products learned of 23 reports of injuries that occurred when basketball players came in contact with a protruding bolt.
One basketball player broke his leg, while other players received severe lacerations, requiring medical attention.
Although the company made changes to improve the safety of the hoops in May 2000, Lifetime never reported a possible product defect or injuries to consumers until the CPSC opened an investigation in July 2001.
According to federal law, manufacturers, distributors and retailers are required to report to CPSC within 24 hours after obtaining information a product contains a defect potentially dangerous defect.
