Webinar: Recent Developments at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission & the Potential Impact of a Joe Biden Presidency
Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 2:00 PM (EDT)
Although, like everything else, COVID-19 has impacted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”), resulting in changes to the way it operates, it has not prevented it from being a busy year at the CPSC. Keeping up with the latest developments at the CPSC is difficult, so we have scheduled this webinar to present the latest news about CPSC activities. We will provide an update on the status of the commissioners and other key CPSC staff, including the status of Nancy Beck’s nomination, the impact Acting Chairman Robert Adler (Democratic appointee) has had on the currently four member Commission, and the appointment of Jonathan Midgett to the position of Consumer Ombudsman. Also, because it is a presidential election year, we will discuss the impact a Joe Biden administration could have on the CPSC.
This impact might be felt most profoundly in the CPSC’s civil penalty, enforcement, and recall policies. During the past several years, there has been a noticeable decline in both the number and dollar amount of civil penalties issued by the Commission. This is a big change from the previous administration, under which we had seen a steady increase in civil penalty amounts. A switch back to a more aggressive enforcement and civil penalty policy under a Joe Biden administration would have a big impact on consumer product manufacturers.
Our plan for this webinar is to provide a short, focused presentation that makes the best use of your time. We hope you can join us on October 20.
Key Insights:
- Impact of COVID-19 on the CPSC
- The Status of the Commissioners and Other Key CPSC Staff
- CPSC Civil Penalties and Enforcement Policies
- CPSC Recall Statistics and Practices
- How the Results of the November 3 Election could Dramatically Impact the Direction of the CPSC
THIS WEBINAR IS FREE TO EVERYONE!
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Time: 2:00 PM (EST)
Expert Panelists:
Dwight Stone is a Principal in the Baltimore office of Miles & Stockbridge P.C. His practice includes products liability and class action defense, and other complex business disputes. A significant part of his practice is the representation of clients before the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in connection with corrective action plans (recalls), reports, civil penalties and investigations. He also advises clients regarding product safety and risk management. He is Immediate Past President of Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc., a bar association for Maryland attorneys primarily engaged in the defense of civil actions.
Timothy Mullin is a trial, regulatory and appellate lawyer, and his practice focuses on representing major manufacturers before the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) and on the defense of product liability cases. He represents clients before the CPSC in connection with corrective action plans (recalls), civil penalties and reports and investigations under the Consumer Product Safety Act, and has litigated cases against the CPSC in federal court and before administrative law judges. He also assists clients in the area of product safety and risk management.
John Celeste’s practice involves representing clients in regulatory matters before the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. John’s practice also includes defending manufacturers in a variety of litigation matters. He has experience representing manufacturers in products liability and mass tort litigation, including claims alleging occupational exposures to asbestos, silica, and other allegedly hazardous substances. John also regularly represents policyholders (including a number of large publicly traded and privately held companies) in insurance coverage and/or insurance-related disputes arising out of a variety of insurance policies. John also regularly advises clients regarding risk management issues, including the procurement and maintenance of insurance assets.
