Graco agrees to settle charges of alleged product reporting violations

WASHINGTON (AP) A leading maker of children's products has agreed to pay four (m) million dollars to settle charges that it was late reporting problems with car seats, high chairs, strollers and other items.

The civil penalty being announced today is the largest ever ordered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The commission says Graco and its subsidiary, Century Products, failed to immediately report defects in 16 different products sold from 1991 to 2002. Those problems resulted in hundreds of injuries and at least six deaths.

Also today, the commission is expected to announce a recall of one point two (m) million Graco Toddler Beds linked to dozens of injuries.

Graco denies knowingly violating consumer safety reporting requirements.

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