Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • March 2001 (Revised April 2002)
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

Ginzel et al v. Kolcraft Enterprises et al (A)

By: Michael A. Wheeler
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:10
ShareBar

Abstract

Examines the wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of an infant who died after a portable crib collapsed. The manufacturer, Kolcraft, licensed the Playskool brand name from the co-defendant, Hasbro Industries. Raises difficult questions about what the two companies should do now, after a series of tragic deaths--and after apparently complying with regulatory requirements governing product recall. Also raises provocative questions about the appropriateness of settlements in wrongful-death suits, corporate responsibility to ensure product safety, and pressures of national media attention on corporate actions. Though the circumstances here are particularly heart-breaking, managers often have to deal with lawsuits that are value-laden and have high emotional content, such as employment discrimination or sexual harassment claims, for example, or environmental and regulatory disputes. The kinds of decisions and tensions that a manager faces in such instances surely have much in common with the issues raised.

Keywords

Safety; Product; Negotiation; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Lawsuits and Litigation; Legal Liability; Brands and Branding; Consumer Products Industry; United States

Citation

Wheeler, Michael A. "Ginzel et al v. Kolcraft Enterprises et al (A)." Harvard Business School Case 801-059, March 2001. (Revised April 2002.)
  • Educators
  • Purchase

About The Author

Michael A. Wheeler

→More Publications

Related Work

    • April 2002
    • Faculty Research

    Ginzel et al v. Kolcraft Enterprises et al (C)

    By: Michael A. Wheeler
Related Work
  • Ginzel et al v. Kolcraft Enterprises et al (C) By: Michael A. Wheeler
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College.