In May 2025, the Trump Administration, asserting Executive authority, terminated the three Democratic Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. On June 13, 2025, a Maryland district court aborted the without-cause termination while a legal challenge proceeds, leaving the Commissioners in place. No longer.

On July 23, 2025, the Supreme Court granted an emergency request and stayed the district court’s blocking order. The six-Justice majority reasoned that the harm to the government from the stay order outweighs a Commissioner’s inability to perform his or her statutory duty.

While the majority ruling was unsigned, three Justices by name dissented, declaring this an unwarranted use of the Court’s stay authority.

Crowell will be monitoring developments as they unfold.

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Photo of Cheryl A. Falvey Cheryl A. Falvey

Cheryl A. Falvey helps clients launch innovative new products while protecting their brand and reputation, avoiding and defending liability in the marketing of their products, building safety and security into their products with science-based risk assessment, and successfully navigating product safety challenges with…

Cheryl A. Falvey helps clients launch innovative new products while protecting their brand and reputation, avoiding and defending liability in the marketing of their products, building safety and security into their products with science-based risk assessment, and successfully navigating product safety challenges with rapid response.

An experienced trial lawyer, and a former general counsel of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Cheri defends class actions, unfair competition, product liability and other mass tort claims arising out of consumer, occupational, and environmental exposures. She also provides brand and consumer protection counseling services, with a focus on product safety and security, including the Internet of Things; privacy; anti-counterfeiting; and digital media. Cheri represents a wide range of clients, from emerging companies to multinational Fortune 500 conglomerates.

Cheri is widely recognized as a leader in her field. She is one of an elite group of attorneys to be ranked in Chambers USA, Band 1 for Product Liability: Regulatory. She is highly regarded for her considerable experience advising clients on regulatory issues, including risk assessments, product recalls and CPSC investigations.

She represents clients on litigation and counseling matters regarding:

  • Compliance with statutes and regulations enforced by the CPSC, FDA, NHTSA, and the FTC.
  • Handles product recalls conducted in cooperation with NHTSA, CPSC, and FDA, and defends clients in agency enforcement actions seeking civil and criminal penalties.
  • Advises manufacturers faced with the potential release of unfair and inaccurate information by the government.
  • Counsels and defends clients on the sale and marketing of consumer products on the Internet, including compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, the FTC’s Green Guides, and state and federal privacy laws.

Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Cheri served as the general counsel of the CPSC. In that capacity, she oversaw all federal court litigation, including civil and criminal cases referred by the Commission to the Department of Justice. Her tenure at the CPSC included advising the agency on the implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a sweeping change to its statutes that had an impact across diverse industry sectors.

Cheri serves as Vice -chair of the American Bar Association’s Consumer Products Regulation Committee, Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice Section. She was named to the National Law Journal’s 2014 list of Governance, Risk & Compliance Trailblazers & Pioneers. Prior to joining the CPSC, Cheri had over 20 years of private practice experience as a partner with another international law firm where she chaired the firm’s D.C. litigation practice. Cheri is also a former member of Crowell & Moring’s Management Board.

Photo of Scott L. Winkelman Scott L. Winkelman

Scott L. Winkelman is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Group and co-chair of the firm’s Transportation Practice. Scott co-founded the firm’s Product Risk Management Practice, has served on the firm’s Management Board and Executive Committee, and for a time managed the firm’s…

Scott L. Winkelman is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Group and co-chair of the firm’s Transportation Practice. Scott co-founded the firm’s Product Risk Management Practice, has served on the firm’s Management Board and Executive Committee, and for a time managed the firm’s New York office and its Regulatory initiative.

Scott represents clients in class actions, force majeure and other contract disputes, multidistrict proceedings, arbitrations, and other complex litigation in products and commercial matters nationwide.

Scott represents clients in agency proceedings before the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and related product regulatory bodies, including in connection with four of the largest automotive recalls in United States history.

Scott conducts product and business risk assessments; performs crisis management; and counsels on liability prevention, commercial contracting, warranty, and best practices in law functions and legal management.

Scott is a certified “black belt” in Six Sigma methodology and brings project efficiencies to his client engagements.

Scott has been recognized by BTI Consulting Group as a 2020 Client Service All-Star. The honor, bestowed by corporate counsel, recognizes attorneys who “stand above all the others in delivering the absolute best in client service. Amid all the changes and unexpected events, they stand tallest.”

Since 1997, Scott has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers In America as a “Best Lawyer” in the area of product liability litigation, and has been ranked in Super Lawyers.

Scott served as judicial clerk to the Honorable John Pratt of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Scott is married with two children and roots for all Detroit sports teams.