Lead Paint Toy Case Settles for $30M

A nationwide class action lawsuit over excessive amounts of lead paint in "Thomas the Tank Engine" toy sets has settled for $30 million. The suit, filed against toy manufacturer RC2 Corporation in the Circuit Court of Cook County (Illinois), included thousands of class members. In a Press Release announcing the settlement, RC2 stated that the agreement -- which is expected to receive final approval in the next few months -- "would resolve all class claims of persons in the United States who purchased or own recalled Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway products which were recalled in June and September of 2007." The Chicago Sun-Times calls the settlement a "precedent for other suits filed against toy companies in last year's China manufacturers/lead paint scandal." In 2007, the presence of excess levels of lead in paint used on children's toys led to a number of recalls, from companies including Mattel and Fisher-Price.

• RC2 Press Release on the Settlement [PDF file]
• Chicago Sun-Times: $30 Mil. Deal in Lead-Paint Thomas Suit
• Lead Paint in Toys - Recalls (FindLaw)
• Lead Poisoning and the Law (FindLaw)
• What is a Class Action? (FindLaw)