Personal Injury Law

Here is the latest Press Release from the American Association for Justice:

The Wall Street Journal (12/5, B6, Trottman) reports that Natural Resources Defense Council and Public Citizen "have gone to court to challenge the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) decision to allow makers of children's products containing phthalates to continue selling those goods so long as they were made before a congressional ban takes effect Feb. 10," arguing that "the congressionally mandated ban should apply retroactively to inventory made before Feb. 10. But the CPSC says it shouldn't."

        The New York Daily News (12/5, Zambito) reports, "Phthalate exposure has been linked to decreases in male testosterone and malformations in genitalia of newborn boys, according to the lawsuit." CongressDaily (12/5) reports, "House Energy and Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush, D-Ill., plans to hold hearings on the CPSC guidance before the end of the 110th Congress, Rush spokeswoman Sharon Jenkins said." The AP (12/5) also covers the story.

        Toy companies to pay $1.8 million for lead-laden Chinese toys. The AP (12/5) reports, "Nine toy companies, including Mattel Inc., agreed to pay a total of nearly $1.8 million to settle a lawsuit over Chinese-made toys tainted with lead, California state and local officials said Thursday." The AP adds that the "companies admitted no wrongdoing as part of the settlement." And, as part of the settlement, the companies "will immediately adopt new standards set forth in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act that bans lead from children's toys but won't take effect until February." The Los Angeles Times (12/5, Lifsher) reports, "The firms as a group also must pay $550,000 into a fund to test toys for lead and improve outreach during future recalls, $460,000 to reimburse government agencies for environmental enforcement activities, $548,000 in civil penalties and additional attorney fees."

        New websites established to help identify dangerous toys. The Detroit Free Press (12/4, Szabo) reported, "Consumer advocates agree that parents have good reason to be careful" about the safety of children's toys because "new lead standards -- part of landmark consumer-safety legislation Congress passed in August -- won't take effect until Feb. 10, says Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., a key supporter of the law. She warns that stores may mark down toys with high lead levels to sell them before the deadline." She is "also concerned that the government won't enforce a ban on hormone-like chemicals called phthalates." Some concerned parents and research groups have established websites to help identify dangerous toys: amomsblog.wordpress.com and healthytoys.org.