Family Suing Mattel, Seeking Payment for Lead Testing

By | August 22, 2007

A California family has sued Mattel Inc., claiming the world’s largest toy maker should pay for testing to determine if children have been exposed to lead from millions of recalled toys.

The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, was filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, said attorney Jeffrey B. Killino in Philadelphia.

The complaint was brought by Adrian and Michael Powell, of Fontana, Calif., on behalf of their children, Megan and Morgan. The couple claims Mattel was negligent and should establish a fund in an unspecified amount to pay for medical screening, such as blood tests, and other monitoring.

Children who ingest lead-laced paint can suffer brain damage, but no injuries have been reported as a result of the recalled toys.

“If you put a toy with lead paint in a kid’s hands, you don’t think you have to pay for lead testing?” Killino said. “They need to step up to the plate and do the right thing.”

A call to El Segundo, Calif.-based Mattel was not immediately returned. The company previously said it had increased its monitoring of Chinese factories.

Last week, Mattel announced a worldwide recall of almost 19 million items, including dolls, cars and action figures. Some of the items were contaminated with lead paint. Others had small magnets that children might swallow.

That followed the company’s previous recall of 1.5 million Chinese-made toys from its Fisher-Price unit because of possible lead-paint hazards.

According to the lawsuit, the Powell children played with some of the toys on Mattel’s recall list. The children had not exhibited any signs of illness, Killino said.

“Lead poisoning, unless it gets really severe, the signs and symptoms are often difficult to pick up on,” he said. “That’s why we need the blood test.”

Topics Lawsuits

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Latest Comments

  • August 27, 2007 at 10:26 am
    CLR says:
    Hi Mary, I guess I missed out where the family was suing for big buics & money grubbing, as the article I read says they are suing for testing... I have to agree that far to m... read more
  • August 26, 2007 at 7:56 am
    wudchuck says:
    the key to all this, is the amount that the kid ingested from the actual toy. they need to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt. if we need to prove negligence, what about the neg... read more
  • August 24, 2007 at 6:22 am
    Mary B. says:
    Wow, thanks Stat Guy. Your posts are pretty clever as well. I guess I am a jaded old hag that worked in claims for too long before going to the broker side. People who sue (IM... read more

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