Thomas & Friends’ Toy Train Maker Faces Lawsuits
Updated June 2007- The RC2 corporation was named as a defendant in two lawsuits. The cases were brought on behalf of injured children, and attorneys were requesting that RC2 provide medical exams for those children who may have ingested lead paint while playing with Thomas & Friends toy trains.
The plaintiffs’ filed suit in Chicago and are seeking class action status in the lawsuits. Thomas and Friends toy train maker announced on June 13 that it would be recalling several trains and toys because of lead paint contamination. Thomas and Friends indicated that they would be voluntarily undertaking the recall.
RC2 has previously stated that the recall of Thomas and Friends toy trains sets, which represents about 4% of wooden unit toy railway sales, would cause them to take a second quarter charge by so much as $2 million.
There was no immediate word on the health of the plaintiffs, Kimm and Harry Walton of Connecticut, and Jennifer Deke of Alabama.