Defective product recalls especially those involving lead-tainted toys have been a major concern to the personal injury lawyers at Bisnar | Chase. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced that nine children's product manufacturers, importers and sellers have agreed to pay more than $500,000 in civil penalties. According to a news report in The Journal Gazette, the penalties settle allegations that the companies knowingly "manufactured, imported or sold toys and other children's articles with paint or other surface coatings that contained lead levels in violation of federal law."

The companies, with this settlement, deny the CPSC's claim that they knowingly violated the law. The lead-tainted items were reportedly recalled in 2007 and 2008 and include toys, metal jewelry, pens, metal water bottles, pencil pouches, sunglasses and Halloween pails and baskets. The firms that were ordered to pay the fines were:

  • Cardinal Distributing Co. Inc. of Maryland
  • Dollar General Corp. of Tennessee
  • Family Dollar Stores Inc. of North Carolina
  • Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. of Oklahoma City
  • First Learning Company Ltd. of Hong Kong
  • Michaels Stores Inc. of Texas
  • A & A Global Industries Inc. of Maryland
  • Raymond Geddes & Co. of Maryland
  • Downeast Concepts Inc. of Maine

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, about 250,000 children in the United States aged 1 to 5 have blood lead levels greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. Lead poisoning can affect nearly every system in the human body. Because lead poisoning occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized. Children under 6 face great risks because their growing bodies absorb lead more easily than adult bodies do. Various studies have shown that high lead levels may cause damage to the nervous system, brain injuries, seizures, growth retardation, loss of hearing and learning disabilities. It could even result in death.

A number of children have reportedly suffered from severe brain injury as a result of ingested lead paint from lead-tainted toys – most of them imported from China. Though, these defective product manufacturers are now paying these civil penalties and denying CPSC's claim, I've no doubt in my mind they knew that federal laws were being violated. These products were manufactured cheap and sold for a huge profit to unsuspecting American consumers, who are now the ones really paying the price for these product manufacturers' negligence and disregard for consumer safety. If your child has suffered a serious personal injury or lead poisoning as a result of a recalled or defective product, please consult with an experienced California products liability attorney to find out more information about your legal rights and options.

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