Importers of wood products should take note of the Justice Department’s first wood-related criminal conviction under the Lacey Act, which prohibits trade in illegally harvested plants or wildlife, and requires import declarations for certain products. On October 7, 2015, Lumber Liquidators pleaded guilty to five criminal counts, including entry by means of false statements, transport of illegally imported timber, and import of illegally harvested timber. In a recent client alert, William Sullivan, Jr., and Benjamin Cote discuss the implications of the plea agreement’s onerous compliance requirements for interpreting the scope of the Lacey Act’s “due care” requirement, and the potential implications for companies wishing to avoid violations.
Client Alert: Lacey Act Lessons From The Lumber Liquidators $13 Million Settlement: Has The Definition Of “Due Care” Been Expanded? [client alert link]