Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., will pay the government of Vermont $42,500 and will no longer sell jewelry in the state as part of a settlement announced by Attorney General William Sorrell on Tuesday.
Sorrell's office alleged that the national discount chain, which is based in Chesapeake, Virginia, continued to place jewelry on its shelves in Vermont despite a previous settlement that was suppose to minimize children’s exposure to toxins.
As part of the 2010 settlement, Dollar Tree agreed to remove all jewelry from its Vermont stores after the jewelry was allegedly found to contain large amounts of cadmium and lead.
In a 2014 lawsuit, Sorrell alleged that Dollar Tree was still selling jewelry in its stores in Rutland, Burlington, Newport/Darby, Bennington and Barre. The jewelry included earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings.
The latest settlement “reflects my continued commitment to keeping products that may contain toxic substances out of the hands of Vermont’s children," Sorrell said.
As part of the new settlement, the term "jewelry" is much more broadly defined as something that’s designed to be an ornament on the body.