Buckyballs and Buckycubes High-Powered Magnet Sets Recalled Due to Ingestion Hazard; Craig Zucker To Fund A Recall Trust, Settles With CPSC

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing a voluntary recall of all Buckyballs and Buckycubes.  The recall of these high-powered magnetic sets is announced as part of the settlement of an administrative case filed by CPSC in July 2012, which sought a mandatory recall of Buckyballs and Buckycubes.  The settlement calls for Craig Zucker, of Brooklyn, N.Y. to fund a Recall Trust.

From 2009 to the present, the Commission staff has received numerous incident reports of ingestions involving Buckyballs and Buckycubes, many of which required surgery.  This recall is intended to protect children and teenagers from the risk of injury that can occur when multiple magnets are ingested.

CPSC urges consumers to immediately stop use of all Buckyballs and Buckycubes and check for magnets that have become separated from the set.  Funds provided by Mr. Zucker will be used to provide a refund to consumers who own and return these magnetic sets.  Refunds will be processed through a Recall Trust that will be funded by Mr. Zucker, but created and controlled by CPSC. 

Once the Recall Trust has been established, consumers will be notified of the process to follow to seek a refund.  Funds provided by Mr. Zucker will also be used to establish a website with information regarding this recall, including an online registration page to file a claim.

Once the Recall Trust becomes active, owners of Buckyballs and Buckycubes sets will have six months to request a refund.  CPSC urges consumers to sign up for free email alerts from the agency, in order to be notified in a timely manner about the start of this recall.

In July 2012, CPSC staff filed an administrative complaint against Maxfield and Oberton Holdings, LLC seeking a recall of Buckyballs and Buckycubes.  CPSC amended that complaint in May 2013 to add Mr. Zucker, individually, after he dissolved Maxfield and Oberton Holdings.  CPSC staff and Mr. Zucker, individually, and as an officer of Maxfield and Oberton Holdings, LLC reached a settlement agreement that includes the recall announced today and ends the legal proceeding.  The Commission approved the settlement agreement on May 9, 2014.

The settlement resolves CPSC staff's allegations that the Buckyballs and Buckycubes high-powered magnet sets create a substantial product hazard.  Mr. Zucker disputed these allegations, but has agreed to the recall in settlement of the allegations against him in the Complaint.

It is illegal under federal law for any person to sell, offer for sale, manufacture, distribute in commerce, or import into the United States any Buckyballs or Buckycubes magnetic set.       

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.  Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.

Media Contact
Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline
Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:
800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)
Times: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime
Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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