Retailers Offer Refund For Toys Containing Asbestos

The Wall Street Journal reports that refunds are being offered to customers who purchased tainted toys based upon the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as the toys have been found to contain asbestos.

The tainted toys in question are the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Fingerprint Examination Kit and the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Forensic Lab Kit. Both toy kits contained a special fingerprint powder which turned out to be more special than first thought as the powder also contained the hazardous mineral asbestos.

In 2008, parents who purchased the tainted toys for $30 brought a class-action lawsuit against the company that developed the product, Planet Toys, Inc.

However, Planet Toys is not offering the refunds for the tainted toys as they just filed for bankruptcy protection in March. Up until that time, Planet Toys had been trying to negotiate a settlement of the lawsuit.

So who is footing the bill for the tainted toy refunds? The retailers who distributed the toys. Specifically, Toys R Us, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. and K-Mart will had out cash refunds for the asbestos-tainted toys. Customers eligible for refunds will also be allowed to send the tainted toys back free of charge.

Written by Gabriel Dorman
gabedorman@gmail.com
www.criminaldefenseduilawyer.com/blog/