Richard Langton Calls for Safer Window Blinds Regulations Following Fatal Accident

• Faulty Products

1 December 2010

Consumer group litigation expert calls for action from manufacturers to prevent further tragedy.

Leading personal injury lawyer Richard Langton, who settled the largest ever consumer group litigation case against ‘toxic sofa’ retailers earlier this year, has put out a fresh call urging blind manufacturers to review the design of their products following the latest child death as a result of a looped blind cord - the fifth in the UK over the last 12 months.

Over the last year, 16-month old Lillian Bagnall-Lambe from Stafford, three-year old Harrison Joyce from Lichfield, Muireann McLaughlin, 2, from Clackmannshire in Scotland and three-year old Beth Clifford from Chesterfield have all died after becoming entangled in looped blind cords.

Most recently, 17-month old Leah Edwards from Chelmsford tragically died after becoming caught in a blind cord. Her mother Joy has said: “It has been devastating. I keep going over the 'what ifs' in my head. What if I'd got up earlier? What if we'd never had blinds with cords? We did tie them up but not all the time. I'd just urge people to make sure they tie them up."

Richard, of national law firm Russell Jones & Walker, champions consumer safety and has been following similar cases across the US, where the American Consumer Product Safety Commission routinely reacts very rapidly to cases like this and instigates a product recall. Most recently, more than half a million Hanover Direct Roman shades and roll-up blinds were recalled after a toddler death in Iowa, and in December 2009 several manufacturers in the States agreed to a voluntary recall of around 50 million blinds

Richard says: “It is unacceptable that children are killed in accidents involving blinds when there are simple ways that manufacturers can prevent them. A single avoidable death is unacceptable – for there to be five in a single year and no Government action absolutely beggars belief. Other developed countries, including America, Canada and Australia are all outlawing blinds with looped cords. How many British families have to suffer before someone wakes up to the problem? Will it take another tragedy and litigation against a manufacturer to provoke action?”

“To date, it appears that manufacturers and retailers alike are relying on the fact that no-one else in the UK market is acting on these warnings and voluntarily withdrawing dangerous blinds. My concern is that Government spending cuts and the planned abolition of national safety bodies will lead to a neglect of this issue altogether.  This isn’t about obtaining compensation, but ensuring something is done to prevent future tragedies.”

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