Notice2025-01753
Proposed Settlement Agreement, Stipulation, Order and Judgement, etc.; Fitbit, LLC
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 27, 2025
Issuing agencies
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Abstract
The Commission publishes in the Federal Register any settlement that it provisionally accepts under the Consumer Product Safety Act. Published below is a provisionally accepted Settlement Agreement with Fitbit, LLC, containing a civil penalty in the amount of $12,250,000 subject to the terms and conditions of the Settlement Agreement. The Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to provisionally accept the proposed Settlement Agreement and Order pertaining to Fitbit, LLC.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 16 (Monday, January 27, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 16 (Monday, January 27, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8201-8204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01753]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
[CPSC Docket No. 25-C0002]
Proposed Settlement Agreement, Stipulation, Order and Judgement,
etc.; Fitbit, LLC
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Commission publishes in the Federal Register any
settlement that it provisionally accepts under the Consumer Product
Safety Act. Published below is a provisionally accepted Settlement
Agreement with Fitbit, LLC, containing a civil penalty in the amount of
$12,250,000 subject to the terms and conditions of the Settlement
Agreement. The Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to provisionally
accept the proposed Settlement Agreement and Order pertaining to
Fitbit, LLC.
DATES: Any interested person may ask the Commission not to accept this
agreement or otherwise comment on its contents by filing a written
request with the Office of the Secretary by February 11, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to comment on this Settlement Agreement
should send written comments to Comment 25-C0002, Office of the
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway,
Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone: (240) 863-8938 (mobile), (301) 504-7479
(office); email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#12716261713f7d6152716261713c757d64"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7b180b08185614083b180b0818551c140d">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Raffman, Senior Trial Attorney,
Division of Enforcement and Litigation, Office of Compliance and Field
Operations, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway,
Bethesda, Maryland 20814; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fc918e9d9a9a919d92bc9f8c8f9fd29b938a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0ddc2d1d6d6ddd1def0d3c0c3d39ed7dfc6">[email protected]</span></a>; 301-504-5906 (office).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The text of the Settlement Agreement and
Order appear below.
Dated: January 22, 2025.
Brianna Bell,
Paralegal Specialist.
United States of America
Consumer Product Safety Commission
In the Matter of: Fitbit LLC, CPSC Docket No.: 25-0002
Settlement Agreement
1. In accordance with the Consumer Product Safety Act, 15 U.S.C.
2051-2089 (``CPSA''), and 16 CFR 1118.20, Fitbit LLC (``Fitbit'' or
``the Firm''), and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission
(``Commission'' or ``CPSC''), through its staff, hereby enter into this
Settlement Agreement (``Agreement''). The Agreement and the
incorporated attached Order resolve staff's charges set forth below.
The Parties
2. The Commission is an independent federal regulatory agency,
established pursuant to, and responsible for, the enforcement of the
CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2051-2089. By executing the Agreement, staff is acting
on behalf of the Commission, pursuant to 16 CFR 1118.20(b). The
Commission issues the Order under the provisions of the CPSA.
3. Fitbit is a corporation, organized and existing under the laws
of the state of Delaware, with its principal place of business in San
Francisco, California.
Staff Charges
4. Between 2017 and 2021, Fitbit imported and distributed in the
United States approximately 1.02 million Fitbit Ionic smartwatches
(collectively, the ``Subject Products'').
5. The Subject Products are ``consumer products'' that were
``manufactured'' and ``import[ed]'' and ``distribut[ed] in commerce,''
as those terms are defined or used in sections 3(a)(5), (8), and (9) of
the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(5), (8), and (9). Fitbit is a
``manufacturer'' and ``distributor'' of the Subject Products, as such
terms are defined in sections 3(a)(8) and (11) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C.
2052(a)(8) and (11).
Violation of CPSA Section 19(a)(4)
6. The Subject Products contain a defect which could create a
substantial product hazard or create an unreasonable risk of serious
injury because the batteries in the Subject
[[Page 8202]]
Products can overheat, posing a serious burn hazard to consumers.
7. During 2018 and 2019 and continuing into 2020, Fitbit received
numerous reports of the Subject Products overheating while being worn
by consumers, causing some consumers to sustain burns including second-
degree and third-degree burns on their arms or wrists.
8. In early 2020, Fitbit initiated a firmware update to mitigate
the potential for battery overheating; however, Fitbit continued to
receive reports of consumers suffering burns due to the product
overheating.
9. Despite possessing information that reasonably supported the
conclusion that the Subject Products contained a defect that could
create a substantial product hazard or created an unreasonable risk of
serious injury, Fitbit did not immediately report to the Commission.
10. The Commission and Fitbit jointly announced a recall of the
Subject Products on March 2, 2022. The press release announcing the
recall stated that the Firm had received at least 115 reports in the
United States of the battery in the smartwatch overheating, with 78
reports of burn injuries in the United States including two reports of
third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns.
Failure To Timely Report
11. Despite having information reasonably supporting the conclusion
that the Subject Products contained a defect which could create a
substantial product hazard or created an unreasonable risk of serious
injury or death, Fitbit did not notify the Commission immediately of
such defect or risk, as required by sections 15(b)(3) and (4) of the
CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2064(b)(3), (4), in violation of section 19(a)(4) of
the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2068(a)(4).
12. Because the information in Fitbit's possession about the
Subject Products constituted actual and presumed knowledge, Fitbit
knowingly violated section 19(a)(4) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2068(a)(4),
as the term ``knowingly'' is defined in section 20(d) of the CPSA, 15
U.S.C. 2069(d).
13. Pursuant to section 20 of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2069, Fitbit is
subject to civil penalties for its knowing violation of section
19(a)(4) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2068(a)(4).
Response of Fitbit
14. This Agreement does not constitute an admission by Fitbit to
the staff's charges as set forth in paragraphs 4 through 13 above,
including without limitation that the Subject Products contained a
defect that could create a substantial product hazard or created an
unreasonable risk of serious injury or death; that Fitbit failed to
notify the Commission in a timely matter in accordance with section
15(b) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2064(b); and that Fitbit knowingly
violated section 19(a)(4) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2068(a)(4), as the
term ``knowingly'' is defined in section 20(d) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C.
2069(d).
15. Fitbit notified the Commission under Section 15(b) of the CPSA
and conducted a voluntary Fast Track recall of the Subject Products,
which was announced on March 2, 2022.
16. Fitbit enters into this Agreement to settle this matter and to
avoid the cost, distraction, delay, uncertainty, and inconvenience of
protracted litigation or other proceedings. Fitbit does not admit that
it violated the CPSA or any other law, and Fitbit's willingness to
enter into this Agreement and Order does not constitute, nor is it
evidence of, an admission by Fitbit of liability, or violation of any
law.
Agreement of the Parties
17. Under the CPSA, the Commission has jurisdiction over the matter
involving the Subject Products and over Fitbit.
18. The parties enter into the Agreement for settlement purposes
only. The Agreement does not constitute an admission by Fitbit or a
determination by the Commission that Fitbit violated the CPSA.
19. In settlement of staff's charges, Fitbit shall pay a civil
penalty in the amount of twelve million, two-hundred-fifty thousand
dollars ($12,250,000). The $12,250,000 Payment shall be paid within
thirty (30) calendar days after receiving service of the Commission's
final Order accepting the Agreement. All payments to be made under the
Agreement shall constitute debts owing to the United States and shall
be made by electronic wire transfer to the United States via <a href="http://www.pay.gov">http://www.pay.gov</a>, for allocation to, and credit against, the payment
obligations of Fitbit under this Agreement. Failure to make such
payment by the date specified in the Commission's final Order shall
constitute Default.
20. The Commission or the United States may seek enforcement for
any breach of, or any failure to comply with, any provision of this
Agreement and Order in United States District Court, to seek relief
including, but not limited to, collecting amounts due.
21. All unpaid amounts, if any, due and owing under the Agreement,
shall constitute a debt due and immediately owing by Fitbit to the
United States, and interest shall accrue and be paid by Fitbit at the
federal legal rate of interest set forth at 28 U.S.C. 1961(a) and (b)
from the date of Default, until all amounts due have been paid in full
(hereinafter ``Default Payment Amount'' and ``Default Interest
Balance''). Fitbit shall consent to a Consent Judgment in the amount of
the Default Payment Amount and Default Interest Balance, and the United
States, at its sole option, may collect the entire Default Payment
Amount and Default Interest Balance, or exercise any other rights
granted by law or in equity, including, but not limited to, referring
such matters for private collection, and Fitbit agrees not to contest,
and hereby waives and discharges any defenses to, any collection action
undertaken by the United States, or its agents or contractors, pursuant
to this paragraph. Fitbit shall pay the United States all reasonable
costs of collection and enforcement under this paragraph, respectively,
including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses.
22. After staff receives this Agreement executed on behalf of
Fitbit, staff shall promptly submit the Agreement to the Commission for
provisional acceptance. Promptly following provisional acceptance of
the Agreement by the Commission, the Agreement shall be placed on the
public record and published in the Federal Register, in accordance with
the procedures set forth in 16 CFR 1118.20(e). If the Commission does
not receive any written request not to accept the Agreement within
fifteen (15) calendar days, the Agreement shall be deemed finally
accepted on the 16th calendar day after the date the Agreement is
published in the Federal Register, in accordance with 16 CFR
1118.20(f).
23. This Agreement is conditioned upon, and subject to, the
Commission's final acceptance, as set forth above, and it is subject to
the provisions of 16 CFR 1118.20(h). Upon the later of: (i) the
Commission's final acceptance of this Agreement and service of the
accepted Agreement upon Fitbit, and (ii) the date of issuance of the
final Order, this Agreement shall be in full force and effect, and
shall be binding upon the parties.
24. Effective upon the later of: (1) the Commission's final
acceptance of the Agreement and service of the accepted Agreement upon
Fitbit and (2) and the date of issuance of the final Order, for good
and valuable consideration, Fitbit hereby expressly and irrevocably
waives and agrees not to assert any past, present, or future rights to
the following,
[[Page 8203]]
in connection with the matter described in this Agreement:
(i) an administrative or judicial hearing;
(ii) judicial review or other challenge or contest of the
Commission's actions;
(iii) a determination by the Commission of whether Fitbit failed to
comply with the CPSA and the underlying regulations;
(iv) a statement of findings of fact and conclusions of law; and
(v) any claims under the Equal Access to Justice Act.
25. Fitbit shall maintain a compliance program (``Compliance
Program'') designed to ensure compliance with the CPSA with respect to
any consumer product imported, manufactured, distributed or sold by
Fitbit in the United States, which shall contain the following
elements:
(i) written standards, policies, and procedures, including those
designed to ensure that information that may relate to or impact CPSA
compliance is conveyed effectively to personnel responsible for CPSA
compliance, whether or not an injury has been reported;
(ii) procedures and systems for tracking and reviewing claims,
including warranty claims, and reports for safety concerns and for
implementing corrective and preventive actions when compliance
deficiencies or violations are identified;
(iii) procedures requiring that information required to be
disclosed by Fitbit to the Commission is recorded, processed, and
reported in accordance with applicable law;
(iv) procedures requiring that all reporting made to the Commission
is timely, truthful, complete, accurate, and in accordance with
applicable law;
(v) procedures requiring that prompt disclosure is made to Fitbit
management of any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in
the design or operation of such internal controls that are reasonably
likely to affect adversely, in any material respect, Fitbit's ability
to record, process and report to the Commission in accordance with
applicable law;
(vi) mechanisms to effectively communicate to all applicable Fitbit
employees, through training programs or other means, compliance-related
company policies and procedures to prevent violations of the CPSA;
(vii) a mechanism for confidential employee reporting of
compliance-related questions or concerns to either a compliance officer
or to another senior manager with authority to act as necessary;
(viii) Fitbit's senior management responsibility for, and general
board oversight of, CPSA compliance, including the implementation of
steps to ensure that incident and injury data is reviewed and analyzed
for purposes of CPSA Section 15(b) reporting;
(ix) for one (1) year, an internal audit of the Compliance Program
that evaluates opportunities for improvement, deficiencies or
weaknesses, and the Firm's overall culture of compliance; and
(x) retention of all CPSA compliance-related records for at least
five (5) years, and availability of such records to CPSC staff upon
request.
26. Fitbit shall submit a report under CPSA Section 16(b), sworn to
under penalty of perjury:
(i) describing in detail its compliance program and internal
controls and the actions Fitbit has taken to comply with each
subparagraph of paragraph 25;
(ii) affirming that during the reporting period, Fitbit has
reviewed its compliance program and internal controls, including the
actions referenced in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, for
effectiveness, and that it complies with each subparagraph of paragraph
25, or describing in detail any non-compliance with any such
subparagraph; and
(iii) identifying the results of the internal audit referenced in
paragraph 25(ix) and any changes or modifications made during the
reporting period to Fitbit's compliance program or internal controls to
ensure compliance with the terms of the CPSA and, in particular, the
requirements of CPSA Section 15 related to timely reporting.
Such report shall be submitted to the Director, Office of
Compliance, Division of Enforcement and Litigation, 30 days after the
close of the 12-month reporting period, which begins on the date of the
Commission's Final Order of Acceptance of the Agreement. Without
limitation, Fitbit acknowledges and agrees that failure to make such
timely and accurate reports, as required by this Agreement and Order,
may constitute a violation of Section 19(a)(3) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C.
2068(a)(3), and may subject Fitbit to enforcement under Section 22 of
the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2071.
27. Notwithstanding and in addition to the above, during the one-
year reporting period, Fitbit shall promptly provide written
documentation of any changes or modifications to its compliance program
or internal controls and procedures, including the effective dates of
the changes or modifications thereto. Fitbit shall cooperate fully and
truthfully with staff and shall make available all non-privileged
information and materials and personnel deemed necessary by staff to
evaluate Fitbit's compliance with the terms of the Agreement.
28. The parties acknowledge and agree that the Commission may
publicize the terms of the Agreement and the Order.
29. Fitbit represents that the Agreement:
(i) is entered into freely and voluntarily, without any degree of
duress or compulsion whatsoever;
(ii) has been duly authorized; and
(iii) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Fitbit,
enforceable against Fitbit in accordance with its terms. The
individuals signing the Agreement on behalf of Fitbit represent and
warrant that they are duly authorized by Fitbit to execute the
Agreement.
30. The signatories represent that they are authorized to execute
this Agreement.
31. The Agreement is governed by the laws of the United States.
32. The Agreement and the Order shall apply to, and be binding
upon, Fitbit and each of its parents, successors, transferees, and
assigns; and a violation of the Agreement or Order may subject Fitbit,
and each of its parents, successors, transferees, and assigns, to
appropriate legal action.
33. The Agreement, any attachments, and the Order constitute the
complete agreement between the parties on the subject matter contained
therein.
34. The Agreement may be used in interpreting the Order.
Understandings, agreements, representations, or interpretations apart
from those contained in the Agreement and the Order may not be used to
vary or contradict their terms. For purposes of construction, the
Agreement shall be deemed to have been drafted by both of the parties
and shall not, therefore, be construed against any party, for that
reason, in any subsequent dispute.
35. The Agreement may not be waived, amended, modified, or
otherwise altered, except as in accordance with the provisions of 16
CFR 1118.20(h). The Agreement may be executed in counterparts.
36. If any provision of the Agreement or the Order is held to be
illegal, invalid, or unenforceable under present or future laws
effective during the terms of the Agreement and the Order, such
provision shall be fully severable. The balance of the Agreement and
the Order shall remain in full force and effect, unless the Commission
and Fitbit agree in writing that severing the provision materially
affects the purpose of the Agreement and the Order.
(Signatures on next page)
[[Page 8204]]
FITBIT LLC
Dated: 1/6/2025.
By: /s/
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Kenneth H. Yi,
Fitbit LLC Authorized Signatory.
Dated: 1/6/2025.
By: /s/
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Matthew Howsare,
Cooley LLP Counsel to Fitbit LLC.
U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Leah W. Ippolito,
Supervisory Attorney.
Dated: 1/6/2025.
By: /s/
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Mark S. Raffman,
Senior Trial Attorney, Division of Enforcement and Litigation,
Office of Compliance and Field Operations.
United States of America
Consumer Product Safety Commission
In the Matter of: Fitbit LLC, CPSC Docket No.: 25-0002
Order
Upon consideration of the Settlement Agreement entered into between
Fitbit LLC (``Fitbit'') and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(``Commission'' or ``CPSC''), and the Commission having jurisdiction
over the subject matter and over Fitbit, and it appearing that the
Settlement Agreement is in the public interest, the Settlement
Agreement is incorporated by reference and it is:
Provisionally accepted and this Order issued on the 22nd day of
January, 2025.
By Order of the Commission:
/s/
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Alberta E. Mills,
Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2025-01753 Filed 1-24-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P
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