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The Home Shopping Network (HSN) has agreed to pay the government $875,000 for a civil settlement after the government accused the company of failing to promptly warn consumers about dangerous pressure cookers that were blamed for burning more than 37 consumers.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced that the payment was part of a settlement reached with HSN and it's partner companies over defects in Welbilt electronic pressure cookers sold between September 2001 and November 2002.

The agreement headed off a lawsuit the commission and the Justice Department were prepared to file against the HSN accusing it of failing to tell the commission about 25 reports the company received of defects in the pressure cooker from 2001 to 2004.

The company reported problems with the pressure cooker to the commission in February 2005, and two recalls were issued for the appliance shortly there after.

As part of the settlement, the company denied that it was aware the reports about problems with the pressure cooker and acknowledged no responsibility for failing to promptly warn consumers about danger of using the appliance. HSN also denied not adequately reporting to the product safety commission any risks associated with the cooker.

The Welbilt pressure cooker was manufactured in Korea by DRECO Ltd.

As part of the October 2005 recall notice, the commission said the company had received 43 reports of lids opening while contents were under pressure, resulting in 37 burn incidents, four of which involved third-degree burns.

The settlement includes HSN LP, HSN Interactive LLC, HSN Fulfillment LLC, and Home Shopping Network en Espanol LLC.

Reference:

"HSN Settles With Government," AP, Natasha T. Metzler, December 2007.