Law Firm News
Mattel Settles Landmark Class Action Lawsuit for Estimated $50 Million for Toys Tainted with Lead; Settlement to Include Quality Assurance Program to Ensure Product Safety
October 14, 2009
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John Patterson, Balkan & Patterson
(561) 750-9191
Chrissy Stewart, BARD Marketing/PR
(610) 723-1738
Boca Raton, FL – Fisher-Price and its parent company Mattel settled a 2007 class action lawsuit on Tuesday for 17 million recalled toys – the largest recall of children’s toys to date. Attorneys with the Florida-based class action law firm of Balkan & Patterson served on the class action’s executive committee and represented a member of the original class of 22 plaintiffs.
The initial settlement was filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct. 13, and will resolve the original suits filed against Mattel, Fisher-Price and large toy retailers behalf of millions of American children and families who purchased or received the defective toys as gifts before they were later recalled or removed from store shelves. The settlement amount has not been confirmed but was estimated to be around $50 million.
“This is an important victory for consumers because Mattel is the world’s largest toy manufacturer and importer. The settlement will put better quality control systems in place that will make toys safer for our children,” said attorney John Patterson, partner in the law firm of Balkan & Patterson. “Parents should not have to worry about their children’s lives being threatened by playing with a toy, and all consumers should feel safe in knowing that the products they buy and use are not dangerous.”
Mattel and Fisher-Price will be required to refund consumers who purchased or acquired the toys, provided the settlement is approved by the Court. Families who had to test their children for lead poisoning or exposure will also be reimbursed for the cost of testing. The settlement also includes the implementation of a quality assurance program within Mattel, which will be overseen by the Court. The quality assurance program will ensure that toys produced and distributed by Mattel and/or Fisher-Price are safe and free of any toxic materials.
The recalled products include Fisher-Price Dora the Explorer toys, Sesame Street toys, and some Mattel toys, including Batman, Polly Pocket, Barbie accessories, and Sarge cars. The toys contained high levels of lead, which is toxic to children, especially those under the age of 7. Lead poisoning is linked to brain damage and learning disabilities, even if ingested in small quantities.
To sign up to receive a payment or learn more about the settlement, visit www.MattelSettlement.com. A complete list of the affected toys is also available.
The main office of Florida trial attorneys Balkan & Patterson is located in Boca Raton, Florida, with a satellite office in Hollywood, Florida. They represent personal injury, auto accident, defective products, and consumer fraud clients throughout South Florida, including all of Palm Beach County, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Lighthouse Point, Parkland, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Broward County and throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.balkanpatterson.com.
