SANTA MONICA--The State of California Department of Fair Employment and Housing officially began investigations today into claims that the Fun Toy Company, headquartered in Santa Monica, has been conducting discriminatory hiring practices. Fun Toy manufactures and distributes toys, games, and novelty items.

   A spokeswoman for the department, Terena Salvades, explained that the Department of Fair Employment and Housing has received a number of complaints against the Fun Toy Company claiming the company has an unspoken policy of not employing persons with any form of physical disability, even if the disability would not affect that person's capacity to meet the job requirements. Salvades said the department opened an investigation in response to the unusually large number of complaints it has received.

   If the accusations are substantiated, the repercussions for the Fun Toy Company could be extremely grave. In addition to potential lawsuits, its license to conduct business in the State of California could be temporarily suspended and it could face stiff fines. The State of California has a record of coming down hard on companies not complying with the State's strict equal opportunity hiring laws.

   However, several lawsuits have recently been filed against the company by private individuals. A class action suit is also pending.

   Hammoun Harmia, President and CEO of Fun Toy Company, flatly denied the validity of the claims against the company, labeling them an attempt by jealous rivals to slander Fun Toy. When asked to name such rivals, Harmia declined to answer, saying that he did not want to make accusations until the Fun Toy Company has completed its own investigation into the matter.

   The Fun Toy Company was founded in 1919 by Mr. Huk C. Fun, who immigrated to California in 1883 to work as a laborer on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Mr. Fun created the Fun Toy Company to import toys and fireworks from China.