Shutdown sought for 4 Calif. children’s product importers

   The U.S. Justice Department on Monday asked a federal court in California to issue an injunction seeking to shut down operations of four California companies and six individuals related to illegal imports of children’s products containing toxic substances such as lead and phthalates, and toys that contained choking hazards.
   The companies in the case are Toys Distribution (or TDI International), S&J Merchandise, BLJ Apparel, and All Season Sales. The individuals include Loan Tuyet Thai, Lan My Lam, Paul Phuong, Cuc T. Thai, Tom Liu and Luan Luu.
   The Consumer Product Safety Commission determined in its investigation the defendants imported various items into the United States in violation of the Consumer Product Safety Act and Federal Hazardous Substances Act.
   The government also alleged the defendants’ operations were associated with each other, and the companies share various personal or professional ties that make joining all the conduct into one lawsuit appropriate.
   The companies S&J Merchandise, BLJ Apparel and All Season Sales, as well as defendant individuals Tom Liu and Luan Luu, have agreed to settle the litigation. The proposed consent decree will be filed shortly with the court for judicial approval. The lawsuit continues against the remaining defendants, the Justice Department said.