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The companies—Brightstar Group,
Inc. and Unik Toyz Trading Inc., are Los
Angeles-based importers and retailers of
children’s products and toys and the
individuals named in the complaints are
the companies’ owners and manager.
Both Brightstar and Unik Toyz are
accused of repeatedly importing chil-
dren’s products and toys that contained
high levels of lead, banned phthalates
and small parts posing a choking hazard
for young children three years of age and
under. Some of the children’s products
PRODUCT RESPONSIBILITY
INFLUENTIAL OUTLIERS
CPSC CONSENT DECREES HAVE FAR-REACHING IMPACT
BY MATTHEW R. HOWSARE AND MATTHEW COHEN
FEBRUARY 2016 •
PPB
• 59
THINK
N OCTOBER 2015,
the U.S. Department of Justice—
at the behest of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC)—filed suit in California federal
court to prohibit two companies and three individuals from
importing allegedly defective children’s products. Filed along-
side the lawsuits are far-reaching consent decrees between the
government and parties. The agreement prohibits the compa-
nies and individuals from conducting any future business (sell-
ing, importing or distributing) involving children’s products or
toys until the CPSC verifies that certain far-reaching condi-
tions are met—all of which relate to future compliance with
safety requirements of the CPSC and Federal Hazardous
Substances Act (FHSA).
I