Wal-Mart officials said they are asking toy suppliers to submit recent safety documentation or re-test their products in response to the wave of recalled products coming from China. The Washington Post reports that the company has instituted a five-step plan to improve the safety of its products, called the Toy Safety Net Program. It has also pledged to work with the Toy Industry Association on new safety standards and help Chinese leaders who are implementing new safety procedures.

About 80 percent of the toys sold in the United States are made in China. Wal-Mart controls about one-third of the toy retail market in the U.S.

Wal-Mart Watch, a watchdog group, said the retailer’s efforts do not go far enough, saying “Wal-Mart’s not addressing the larger problem of why Chinese toy suppliers are cutting corners with lead paint and melamine. It’s because they’re under enormous pressure from buyers like Wal-Mart, and they’re sacrificing child safety to keep costs low.”

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, a Pennsylvania Superior Court judge was indicted on charges of money laundering and mail fraud in connection with a personal injury verdict of $440,000 that he received in 2001.  In August 2001, Judge Michael T. Joyce was struck from behind at 5 miles per hour while in his car, prompting him to file an insurance claim for personal injuries that prevented him from enjoying his normal lifestyle.  He claimed to be in constant pain.

Subsequently, Joyce was seen playing golf in such exotic locales as Jamaica, scuba diving, and receiving his airplane pilot’s license, as well as exercising at a gym and inline skating, all activities which he claimed he was prevented from doing in the insurance claim. The money laundering claims stem from purchases he made with the insurance settlement money through a brokerage account. 

Legally, Joyce was not required to step down, since his crimes were unrelated to his area of legal jurisdiction.  But, in conjunction with the charges, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has suspended Joyce with pay.  Amazingly, Joyce maintains his innocence in the charges.  In a move that can been seen as either extremely brave or extremely foolish, Joyce has claimed that he will stand for re-election in November when his term is up.

According to the International Herald Tribune, Home Depot has agreed to pay nearly $10 million in penalties and investigation costs to settle a lawsuit alleging it mishandled hazardous waste from its California stores.

Home Depot came under investigation after a hazardous waste container exploded at a store in Marina Del Ray. Investigators found various chemicals had been mixed inside a 55-gallon drum.

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control found that Home Depot routinely collected hazardous wastes in large containers for offsite disposal.  Haulers, hired by the company, improperly stored and labeled waste and did not keep proper records.

Apparently Drew Carey couldn’t handle equipment Bob Barker has been working with for decades. TMZ.com reports that the new host of The Price is Right was injured when he got his arm caught in rotating device used in one of the show’s games. A source said he is already back on the set wearing a soft cast to protect a bruised bone.

Carey was only bruised, but we’re sure he’ll have a good time trying to live this down.

Six Ocean City, Maryland Police Department officers, as well as the City, are being sued for $18.6 million in damages for police brutality. Demar Leonard and Brandon Bishop have filed a 93-count civil lawsuit alleging assault, battery, excessive force, and false imprisonment.

According to the Maryland Coast Dispatch, the plaintiffs say the officers confronted them in front of a 7-Eleven store, questioning them about a shoplifting spree at a nearby CVS Drugstore. Questioning escalated into a physical alteration, resulting in the arrest of the boys who were charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

According to police reports, the officers asked the boys for identification. When Leonard ignored several orders to keep his hands out of his pockets the officers attempted to restrain him, after which the violence ensued. 

The lawsuit alleges Leonard was “approached from behind and choked, yanked to the ground and thrown into the side of a paddy wagon before four officer piled on top of him, pushing him into the ground and pulling at his limbs.” According to court documents, when the Leonard’s parents picked him up after booking, they allegedly found he had been badly beaten and required medical attention. Leonard’s family pursued brutality charges against the officers, but an internal investigation amounted to nothing.

Leonard was convicted of two counts of assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. His conviction was overturned on appeal.