The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has filed suit (pdf) against Imperial Toy Corp., of Los Angeles, Calif., and the company's president, Fred Kort, alleging that Imperial repeatedly imported and sold children's toys that violate federal safety standards and pose serious choking hazards.
The suit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, seeks a civil penalty and a court order preventing the company from committing any further illegal actions.
The complaint charges that in May 1998, Imperial imported 4,300 candy-filled plastic trucks, called "Candy Road Machines," that were intended for children under 3 years old, but failed to comply with the federal small parts regulations. Tests conducted by commission staff resulted in small pieces breaking off the toy trucks, which young children could place in their mouths and choke on. After recalling the "Candy Road Machines" in October 1998, Imperial allegedly sold another 22,000 units on numerous occasions, even though the toys were known to present a hazard to young children.
In October 2000, Imperial allegedly imported 5,700 "Cuddles Feeding Set" toys, knowing that the products were dangerous to young children, based on two previous recalls (in 1990 and 1995) of the same toys. The baby doll feeding sets, which were also sold as "My Dolly's Meal Time" and "Cuddles Meal Time," failed the commission's small parts test.
It is illegal to sell products intended for children under 3 years old that violate the small parts regulations of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.
Every year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls numerous children's products that could cause deaths or injuries. The commission's safety standards for children's toys are among the most stringent in the world.
The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Consumer Litigation is representing the Commission in federal court.
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.
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