California Files Suit Against Toy Makers Over Lead in Products
On Monday, California Attorney General Jerry Brown (D) and Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo filed a lawsuit against 20 companies alleging they violated state law by manufacturing or selling products that contained "unlawful quantities of lead" without warning consumers, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The lawsuit follows major recalls of toys, lunchboxes and other items this year by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The case was filed in Alameda Superior Court under Proposition 65, California's antitoxics law. The law requires companies to post a warning on products that include chemicals that could cause cancer or birth defects (Lifsher/Goldman, Los Angeles Times, 11/19).
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages but notes that the companies could face penalties of up to $2,500 daily per violation (Smith, Sacramento Bee, 11/20).
Brown said that the companies likely will settle the lawsuit by agreeing to "conditions such as testing or putting independent monitors in foreign countries" to ensure that no products containing lead or other harmful chemicals leave the factories (Los Angeles Times, 11/19).
The companies include:
- Costco;
- Mattel;
- KB Toys;
- Sears;
- Target;
- Toys "R" Us; and
- Wal-Mart (Sacramento Bee, 11/20).
KPCC's "AirTalk" on Monday included a discussion with Delgadillo about the lawsuit (Mantle, "AirTalk," KPCC, 11/19).
Audio of the segment is available online.