Entertainment Centers

CPSC Recall #08-114 — December 4, 2007

Recall Summary

Recall Number08-114
Recall DateDecember 4, 2007
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 138,000
Manufactured InUnited States

Where It Was Sold

They were sold at mass merchandisers nationwide
including K-Mart stores
from June 2000 through May 2005 for about $200.

Product

Entertainment Centers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ameriwood Industries Inc., of Tiffin, Ohio is voluntarily recalling about 138,000 entertainment centers.The entertainment centers can collapse if the back panel is not secure, posing a risk of death or serious injury to consumers.The firm has received a report of a fatality when the entertainment center collapsed on a 19-month-old child. The firm has received three other reports of minor injuries involving the entertainment center.The recalled entertainment centers are black with two lower miter-framed doors, two glass doors at the top, and CD storage racks. They measure about 54 inches wide, 71 inches high, and 20 inches deep. They were sold under the Ridgewood/Charleswood brand name. Model number 93956 is printed on the instruction manual.They were sold at mass merchandisers nationwide, including K-Mart stores, from June 2000 through May 2005 for about $200. The entertainment centers were manufactured in the United States.Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled entertainment centers and contact Ameriwood to receive a free support panel repair kit.For additional information, contact Ameriwood toll-free at (877) 732-8252 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.ameriwood.com.  

Hazard

The entertainment centers can collapse if the back panel is not secure, posing a risk of death or serious injury to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

The firm has received a report of a fatality when the entertainment center collapsed on a 19-month-old child. The firm has received three other reports of minor injuries involving the entertainment center.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled entertainment centers and contact Ameriwood to receive a free support panel repair kit.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.