Mattel Inc. and its Fisher-Price division have reached a settlement in lawsuits related to the Rock ‘n Play baby sleeper, which was recalled due to safety concerns linked to infant deaths. The settlement, revealed in a Delaware court filing last week, addresses claims from six families who lost children and four others who reported injuries caused by the product’s design.
One of the cases settled was brought by Ameena Brown, whose infant son tragically died in the sleeper in 2018. Jury selection for her case was set to begin just days after the settlement was announced. There are still at least four other similar cases ongoing in Delaware.
Mattel, which purchased Fisher-Price in 1993, has not commented on the settlement details. The Rock ‘n Play sleeper was sold from October 2009 until it was pulled from the market in 2019, linked to approximately 100 infant deaths over its 14 years of sales. In 2023, the company reiterated its recall of the product.
Earlier this year, Mattel also settled claims from investors who alleged the company concealed the risks associated with the sleeper. This deal was worth $17 million and included commitments to improve how safety issues are managed. Additionally, a $19 million class-action settlement was reached for Rock ‘n Play purchasers in federal court.
In Brown’s case, her attorneys argued that the sleeper’s design forced infants to tilt their heads, increasing risks of serious injuries or even death. Brown found her son deceased after he rolled onto his side and pressed his face against the soft side of the sleeper. He had been born prematurely the year before.
Following internal warnings from Fisher-Price employees about safety concerns before the product’s launch, a US House committee investigated and found that safety checks were not conducted. In response, Fisher-Price stated they would focus more on safety by forming a council of pediatricians.
While Mattel’s court filings suggested that Brown did not use the sleeper’s restraints and that medical examiners cited Sudden Infant Death Syndrome as the cause of death, the settlement marks a significant moment for the families involved. Michael Trunk, the attorney representing the victims, expressed that this resolution allows families to begin healing and moving forward.
The details of the settlement, including any financial compensation, have not been disclosed. The case is recorded as Brown v Fisher-Price in the Delaware Superior Court.