Office Depot to pay $3.4 million to settle charges over faulty chairs

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Office Depot will pay regulators $3.4 million to settle charges that it did not report defects of two of its office chair models fast enough, even after receiving more than 200 complaints.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the seatbacks of some of the chairs fell off, resulting in back injuries. The agency said Office Depot did not notify the regulator until it contacted the company. Companies must report issues with its products within 24 hours, the CPSC said.

Office Depot sold more than 1.4 million of the defective Gibson chairs between 2003 and 2012. They cost $40 each. Office Depot sold 150,000 of the other model, called Quantum, which cost $350. That model was sold between 2006 and 2009. Office Depot received 186 reports of the seatbacks failing, and 39 reports of injuries, including a fractured back and hip, according to the CPSC.

In settling the charges, Office Depot did not admit or deny wrongdoing.

Office Depot Inc., which has headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida, sells office supplies and furniture at 1,800 stores around the country.