Judge blocks company from shipping chest binders to Texas

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Monday a win in his case against Lola Olivia, an online retailer based in New York City, for selling chest binders to young girls in Texas. A temporary restraining order has been granted, halting the company from selling or shipping such items into the state.

"I will never allow radical companies like Lola Olivia to abuse Texas children by ‘transitioning’ them," Paxton said. "I have now secured an order that stops Lola Olivia from selling chest binders that hurt young girls in Texas. My office will continue to protect our state’s children against radical, sick corporations willing to harm kids with their dangerous agenda."

The order from a Texas District Court stated, "The Court finds that harm is imminent to the State, and if the Court does not issue a Temporary Restraining Order, the State will be irreparably injured." The company, the court said, "sells chest binders without disclosing the risk of use including, but not limited to, misshapen or deformed breasts, compromised lung function, and rib fracture."

"Additionally, Lola Olivia, Inc markets chest binders as undergarments when they are actually Class I medical devices," the ruling stated, adding that such "marketing and selling of chest binders constitutes false, misleading, or deceptive acts under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act."

The judge issued an ex parte order, "without notice to Lola Olivia Inc," saying it was "necessary because there was not enough time to give notice to Lola Olivia Inc., hold a hearing, and issue a restraining order before the irreparable injury, loss, or damage would occur. Specifically, if a temporary restraining order is not issued, Lola Olivia Inc. will continue to market and sell harmful chest binders that subject Texas children to at least twenty-eight different medical conditions, resulting in irreparable harm to consumers."

The order blocks the company from "selling, shipping, or causing to be sold or shipped, any chest binders to any individuals or entities within the State of Texas" and will remain in effect for 14 days "or until further agreed by the Parties or as otherwise ordered by this Court." A hearing has been set for March 13.

Paxton sued the company in February, saying that the company sells chest binders to young girls "without informing them that they could be subjected to no less than twenty-eight different medical conditions, including permanently harming their breasts, causing back and chest pain, shortness of breath, and even rib fracture."

Paxton said at the time, "'Transitioning' a minor is child abuse, and any corporation doing it will face swift and unrelenting justice. It’s unconscionable that there are people in this world who are trying to make a fortune by hurting kids, but that’s exactly what’s going on here. I will be bringing the full force of the law against Lola Oliva for misleading Texans about the extreme harm that its products cause our kids."