It seems like a very low settlement number considering how dangerous lead is for children. The legal costs had to be significant but neither amount sounds like it would have much of an impact on safeguarding children in the future. Shouldn't companies be responsible for knowing what is in the products they are selling? Is ignorance really a valid excuse in such cases?
An Illinois firm agreed to pay a $1.25 million settlement for importing and selling the popular Thomas & Friends children's toys that contained lead levels above legal limits and risked sickening children.
In agreeing to the penalty settlement, RC2 Corp. denied that it knowingly violated federal law as alleged by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the agency said in a statement Monday evening.
