LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced April 24 that Luxy Accessory Inc. (Luxy), a Los Angeles jewelry distributor, and its owner Hyun Sook Kim will pay $1.626 million after allegedly violating California’s Metal Containing Jewelry Law and the Unfair Competition Law.
The defendants purportedly sold jewelry, most of which was intended to be used by children, that had lead and cadmium in levels above the legal amount. Some of the products were also purportedly labeled “lead free.”
“We're holding Luxy accountable, as it should be," Becerra said in a statement. “Lead and cadmium are highly toxic metals that can cause serious physical and behavioral health problems even at low levels of exposure. This is especially true for our children. I've seen firsthand how working families are too often the victims of the collective damage lead can cause to children. [This] judgment should send a strong message to all. The California Department of Justice will aggressively prosecute those who violate our laws and jeopardize the well-being of our sons and daughters.”
Becerra’s office worked with the Department of Toxic Substances Control on the case.