Berman, DeValerio, Pease & Tabacco, P.C. and Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, Announce Settlement of Antitrust Lawsuit Against Several Toy Manufacturers.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 1999--

Settlement Will Result in the Distribution

of Free Toys to Needy Children

Joseph J. Tabacco of the law firm Berman, DeValerio, Pease & Tabacco, P.C. and William Bernstein of the law firm of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, are pleased to announce that plaintiffs in a private class action lawsuit alleging antitrust violations have reached a settlement with several toys manufacturing and retail companies. They stated: "This settlement resolves both private class action lawsuits brought by several consumers on behalf of consumers nationwide and lawsuits filed by state Attorneys General and illustrates how government prosecutors and private consumer attorneys can work together to effectively resolve lawsuits to benefit consumers."

Under the terms of this settlement, which is subject to court approval, Hasbro, Inc. (AMEX:HAS), Mattel, Inc. (NYSE:MAT), Toys 'R' Us, Inc. (NYSE:TOY) and several of the other toy companies will distribute over $36 million in free toys to needy children in all fifty states and pay over $20 million in cash to consumers for a combined value of over $56 million. The toys will be distributed to needy children at Christmas free of charge through the U.S. Marine Corps' acclaimed Toys for Tots program.

Counsel for the consumer plaintiffs include:

--Berman, DeValerio, Pease & Tabacco, P.C., San Francisco, California 

--Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, L.L.P., San Francisco, California

--Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz, New York, New York

--Milberg, Weiss, Bershad, Hynes & Lerach, LLP, New York, New York

--Fine Kaplan & Black, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

--Kohn, Swift & Graf, P.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania