Class Action Lawsuit: Bell Children’s Bicycle Seat Use New Jersey

Bell’s Sports Inc. was hit was with a Bell Children’s Bicycle Seat Use New Jersey class action lawsuit, with claimants alleging the products were not made in the United States despite the label stating otherwise.

Each of the children’s bicycles seats allegedly had the “Made in the USA” label, but were purportedly made from foreign made and inferior materials and not worth the price customers paid for.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, a product and all of its components must be made in the United States in order to legally sport the “Made in the USA” label.

However the Bell Children’s Bicycle Seat Use New Jersey class action lawsuit states that the bicycle seat components were made in different countries, and that customers paid the prices they did for the bicycle seats due to the “Made in the USA” labels.

Federal and New Jersey marketing laws prohibit companies from using the “Made in the USA” or other labels indicating the product was solely manufactured in the United States, unless if each of the components was made in the United States.

Essentially if significant or other components of the product are manufactured outside of the United States, the product cannot be advertised with a “Made in the USA” label.

Bell Sports had allegedly mislabeled their children’s bicycle seats in the hopes that consumers would buy the products over competing brands due to the “Made in the USA” label.

Oftentimes consumers will base their decision to purchase a product, as well as pay more money, if the product has been indicated to be made in the United States. There are several behavioral factors that may influence this purchasing preference, such as supporting domestic jobs and the overall American economy.

Customers may also have concerns regarding international labor standards or simple patriotic loyalty. Products made in the United States are subject to strict federal environmental, labor and safety standards.

Foreign made components are not required to heed to the same quality levels, and are often made from cheaper and lower quality materials.

Consumers seldom have the knowledge or ability to predetermine if a product is made in the United States before purchase, and have to take the companies at their word.

Customers who had purchased Bell’s children bicycle seats in New Jersey are included in this, and had allegedly purchased the products believing they were superior goods made on domestic soil.

Overview of Bell Children’s Bicycle Seat Use New Jersey & CA Settlement

The Bell Children’s Bicycle Seat Use New Jersey class action lawsuit had accused Bell Sports of violating New Jersey and federal laws, for allegedly misrepresenting their products to increase the chances of sales.

Customers who had experienced Bell Children’s bicycle seat use in New Jersey, state the bicycle seat parts were made in China and Taiwan.

Even though a settlement was recently reached with California consumers in 2012, it is important to understand how this settlement may impact class members involved in the Bell Children’s Bicycle Seat Use New Jersey litigation.

California customers who had purchased a Bell bicycle seat with the “Made in the USA” label between the years 2006 and 2012 may be eligible for compensation of either $10 or $13 from the class action settlement.

The California Bell bicycle seat class action lawsuit settlement also requires Bell’s Sports to donate $100,000 worth of new bicycle helmets to different charities, promoting bicycle safety or to provide athletic equipment to disadvantaged youth.

The Bell Children’s Bicycle Seat Use New Jersey Class Action Lawsuit is is Miller-Monteleone v. Bell Sports, Inc., et al., Case No. ESK-L-004546, in the Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division, Essex County.