The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that a lawsuit has been filed against four Los Angeles-area businesses and six individuals, for importing dangerous toys that violate federal safety laws. CPSC and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) are seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief against the following firms and their presidents or owners: Lucky Toys Inc. (Julia Ko and Steve Thai), Union Import Inc. (Simon Ko), Rita Chin (owner of the now-defunct Kool Imports Inc.), 333 Imports Inc. (Harry Chin), and Seven Stars Toys Imports Inc. (Ivan Ko). All of these individuals are related as siblings or in-laws.
The complaint alleges that since 1997, these firms imported 47 separate types of toys (totaling over 350,000 units) which had small parts in violation of CPSC regulations. To protect children under three years of age from choking, aspiration, or ingestion hazards, federal law prohibits toys from having small parts. Examples of the violative toys include baby dolls, frogs, phones, cars, airplanes, and bath sets.
CPSC informed the companies and their owners/presidents on numerous occasions that their imports were illegal and dangerous; yet, the complaint alleges that the firms and their owners/presidents knowingly committed further violations. Through the inspection and detective work of CPSC and the U.S. Customs Service, most of these toys were seized at the Port of Long Beach before they could reach store shelves.
"Thanks to the hard work and dedication of CPSC investigators and Customs agents, no child was injured by these dangerous toys," said CPSC Acting Chairman Thomas Moore. "This case shows that CPSC, Customs, and the Justice Department are committed to working together to prosecute those who endanger the safety of children."
In addition to the current charges, Steve Thai was sentenced on April 9, 2002, to three years probation and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine for importing children's toys that violated federal law. Thai, who formerly owned the now defunct Super Rambo Inc., is the first individual sentenced for a criminal conviction related to CPSC's mandatory children's toy standards.
VIOLATIVE TOYS
Product | Violation | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
Toy penguin | small parts | 4,320 |
Toy bus | small parts | 65,016 |
| Train set | small parts | 12,528 |
| Musical doll | small parts | 7,200 |
| Musical doll | small parts | 46,440 |
| Toy airplane | small parts | 7,680 |
| Toy car | small parts | 32,640 |
| Toy car | small parts | 960 |
| Toy car | small parts | 1,440 |
| Toy police car | small parts | 2,160 |
| Toy truck | small parts | 720 |
| Dog play set | small parts/balls | 1,728 |
Union Import
Product | Violation | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
Toy car | small parts | 17,280 |
Toy phone | small parts | 11,040 |
| Baby doll | small parts | 1,920 |
| Toy frog | small parts | 2,880 |
| Musical frog | small parts | 1,440 |
| Toy hammer | small parts | 8,640 |
| Toy hammer | small parts | 12,672 |
| Musical doll | small parts | 7,680 |
| Wind-up doll | small parts | 10,080 |
| Toy bus | small parts | 1,680 |
| Toy car | small parts | 900 |
| Toy phone | small parts | 23,232 |
Kool Imports
Product | Violation | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
Toy car | small parts | 2,400 |
Toy phone | small parts | 2,400 |
| Toy phone | small parts | 2,400 |
| Musical dolphin | small parts | 2,400 |
| Toy duck | small parts | 4,800 |
| Toy car | small parts | 1,296 |
| Animal toy | small parts | 4,500 |
| Toy elephant | small parts | 900 |
| Doll set | small parts | 2,400 |
| Toy car | small parts | 3,600 |
| Toy worm | small parts | 3,600 |
| Toy phone | small parts | 2,400 |
| Toy phone | small parts | 1,800 |
| Musical phone | small parts | 3,600 |
| Toy musical bus | small parts | 4,800 |
| Toy bath set | small parts | 2,400 |
333 Imports
Product | Violation | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
Tambourine play set | small parts | 250 |
Toy seal | small parts | 3,600 |
Seven Stars Toys
Product | Violation | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
Toy phone | small parts | 7,200 |
Toy airplane | small parts | 2,880 |
| Toy phone | small parts | 7,200 |
| Toy tractor | small parts | 630 |
| Toy horse | small parts | 7,200 |
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
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