Expert Article by Christie Grymes Thompson
With a looming departure date for Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC” or “Commission”) Commissioner Nancy Nord that would leave the CPSC without a quorum, the Obama Administration announced last week the nomination of former Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle to serve as a Republican Commissioner. During her single term, Congresswoman Buerkle criticized what she described as an unchecked growth of government that stifled the free enterprise of small businesses. Her nomination will likely be paired with Marietta Robinson’s nomination, President Barack Obama’s pick in 2012 to fill the seat left vacant by Democratic Commissioner Thomas Moore.
In the wake of the White House’s nomination, Ray Aragon quietly became the Commission’s Director of Compliance and Field Operation. Although the CPSC has not issued a press release announcing the new Director or modified its online organization chart, Mr. Aragon is listed in the CPSC’s phone directory and presumably has begun handling matters. Mr. Aragon was most recently a partner at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, with a commercial litigation practice that included product liability claims.
This Kelley Drye advisory provides background regarding these two individuals and what the new leadership means for the CPSC.
Follow the link to learn more & register for ACI’s Consumer Products Regulation & Litigation Conference on June 26th to 27th,2013 Tags: Consumer products regulation, CPSC