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If you or a family member are outdoorsy types and hunters, you're probably familiar with what a tree stand is and how it works.  However, you may not be aware of the following recall of Ol' Man tree stands, or the lawsuit that has recently been filed against a different manufacturer for faulty products. 

Up first is the Ol' Man tree stand, which is only for a recall notice:

Ol’ Man Treestands Recalled by TSR Inc.; Locking Pins Can Unexpectedly Fall Out, Posing a Fall Hazard

Name of Product: Treestands

Units: About 9,000 treestands, and about 500 replacement pin sets sold separately.

Importer/Distributor: TSR Inc., of Jay, Fla.

Hazard: The locking pins in the treestands can come out unexpectedly, exposing consumers to possible injury due to a fall.

Incidents/Injuries: TSR has received five reports of pins coming out of the treestand, including four injuries from falls.

Description: The recall involves locking pins, which secure the cables that connect the treestand to a tree. The pins were sold with the 2006 Ol’ Man Treestands, including the MV-MO (Multi-Vision), GMV-MO (Grand Multi-Vision), OMDX-MO (Original XX), GOMDX-MO (Grand XX), AMVP-MO (Multi Vision Pro), AGMVP-MO (Grand Multi-Vision Pro), AOMP-MO (Ol’ Man Pro), and AGOMP-MO (Grand Ol’ Man Pro). The recalled treestands are stamped on the underside of the teeth plates with “TSR 06” and one of the following date codes: 6018, 6019, 6020, 6021, 6022, 6027, 6028, 6029, 6030, 6032, 6033, 6034, 6035, 6036, 6037, or 6041. The recall also includes the 2006 Ol’ Man Replacement Pin Sets, model PL. No other models or parts are included in this recall.

Sold at: Various hunting supply stores from August 2006 through January 2007. The treestands sold for between $100 and $400, and the replacement pin sets sold for between $10 and $14.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled treestands and pins immediately and contact TSR for free replacement pins.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call TSR at 888-656-2606 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, visit the company’s Web site at www.olmanoutdoors.com, or e-mail at bart@olmanoutdoors.com

And here's the release about the lawsuit filed against tree stand manufacturer Ardisam, Inc. of Wisconsin:

Tree Stand Manufacturer Sued For Late Reporting of Injuries To the Government

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today the filing of a lawsuit (PDF) against Ardisam Inc., of Cumberland, Wis., in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. The lawsuit alleges that Ardisam failed to report in a timely manner, as required by federal law, serious injuries with the Big Foot and Lite Foot Series hunting tree stands. In July 2004, these tree stands were the subject of a recall.

The lawsuit alleges that Ardisam received incident information beginning in April 2000 that the tree stands unexpectedly detached from trees, resulting in broken bones and other serious injuries to consumers. It is alleged that the company failed to immediately inform CPSC of this information as required by federal law. Ardisam finally reported information to CPSC in May 2004.

“The law is clear – companies must immediately tell CPSC about products that could pose a substantial risk or create an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death” said CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. “The quicker a company tells CPSC about a dangerous product, the quicker we can work to protect the health and safety of consumers.”

Under the Consumer Product Safety Act, manufacturers, distributors and retailers are required to report to CPSC information about products that could create a substantial risk of injury to the public or that create an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death.

Here's a picture of the Ardisam tree stand in question: