On May 27, 2015, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that Office Depot Inc., of Boca Raton, Fla. agreed to pay a $3.4 million civil penalty for failing to report to the CPSC, as is required by federal law, known defects and unreasonable risk of serious injury regarding two of its office chairs – the Gibson and the Quantum.

The seatbacks on both models failed, and caused multiple back injuries and other injuries. Under Federal law, manufacturers such are required to report to the CPSC within 24 hours whenever a consumer product has a defect which could present any risk of serious injury.

Office Depot Failed to Report to the CPSC

Office Depot did receive dozens of reports about seatback failures and subsequent injuries involving the Gibson and Quantum chairs, however, the major office supplier failed to report the Quantum chair hazard to the CPSC, and it only reported the Gibson chair hazard after it received a request from the CPSC.

By the time the recalls for the Gibson and Quantum chairs took effect, Office Depot had received 153 and 33 reports, respectively, about the seatback detachment, and 25 and 14 reports, respectively, of the related injuries suffered by consumers.

Compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act

Office Depot agreed to pay a $3.4 million dollar civil penalty; the company also agreed to maintain a compliance program that would ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act.

Office Depot's compliance program must include internal controls and procedures, policies that will convey information from complaints, incident reports, parts requests, and they must have personnel who are responsible for CPSC compliance.

According to the CPSC, property damage, injuries and deaths from defective products cost the nation over $1 trillion each year. Hence, the CPSC's mission is to ensure that consumer products are safe for the public.

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