NY Sues Three Companies Over Lead Levels In Kids' Jewelry Kits

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas

Published December 13, 2018 at 3:48 PM EST

New York state is suing two of the nation's largest retailers and a third company for importing and selling children's toys with lead levels up to 10 times higher than federal limits.

State Attorney General Barbara Underwood says the lawsuit filed in an Albany court Thursday names Walmart, Target and LaRose Industries, importer of the "Cra-Z-Jewelz" jewelry-making kits.

The lawsuit says the retail giants and the Randolph, New Jersey-based importer "committed thousands of violations" of state laws regulating the safety of children's toys sold in New York.

The lawsuit seeks civil penalties from the companies and a court order requiring them to ensure they don't ever again sell toys containing high lead levels in New York.

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Dave Lucas

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.

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