2-year old gets lead poisoning with brain damage from imported vinyl mini blinds

… A two-year-old boy lived in an apartment with his parents. All of the windows were covered by vinyl mini blinds purchased by the previous tenant from a national discount store. The mini blinds, imported from China, had lead added to stabilize the plastic.  When the blinds were hung in a window, sunlight would cause the lead to degrade, forming a fine coating of lead dust.  The two year old spent a lot of time looking out the windows and would place his hands on the blinds.  During a routine screening, he was diagnosed with lead poisoning of his blood.  The Health Department found that the surfaces of the mini blinds had a lead dust level almost 14 times the federal standards.  The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission issued a press release about the danger of imported vinyl mini blinds. The two year old developed significant mental and developmental impairments.  The national discount chain was sued for importing and selling this dangerous product.  The case settled for a significant sum just before jury selection.  The settlement proceeds were placed in a special trust to preserve the now young man’s entitlement to state benefits.