‘Cabbage’ Doll Maker Settles Suit

The manufacturers of Cabbage Patch Kids dolls agreed Tuesday to pay more than $50,000 in civil penalties and costs to settle a consumer protection lawsuit accusing the company of leaving out the socks depicted on packages of its hockey doll.

The problem surfaced when a private attorney complained that his son was disappointed on finding that his Cabbage Patch hockey doll did not come with the long, brightly colored socks shown on the package, according to a spokesman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, which filed the suit.

An investigation disclosed that some other accessories, such as toy baby bottles, were not included in certain packages, although they were shown in photographs advertising the dolls, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Martin L. Herscovitz.

Furthermore, the colors of items in the boxes often were not as bright and well-coordinated as depicted, Herscovitz said. This inaccuracy in packaging makes the products appear more attractive than they actually are and misleads the consumer into thinking that he will get more than he actually does, Herscovitz said.

Without admitting any of this, Coleco Industries Inc., which designs, makes and distributes the dolls, agreed to pay the penalties plus court costs, and to abide by a permanent injunction against deceptive packaging.