American Greetings to Reformulate Cards Thanks to TCG Client Whitney Leeman

Dr. Whitney Leeman, a client of The Chanler Group, obtained an agreement earlier this month to ensure that greeting cards sold by American Greetings will be free of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), a toxic phthalate chemical known to cause birth defects and other reproductive harm.  Leeman alleged that American Greetings violated Proposition 65 by selling cards made with vinyl/PVC components containing DEHP in California without providing a health hazard warning.  Under Proposition 65, companies offering products for sale in California that contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm must provide a health hazard warning.

As part of the agreement, American Greetings will reformulate its cards to virtually eliminate DEHP.  The company will pay civil penalties of $16,500, with 75% of those penalties to be paid to the State of California, to enhance public health and the environment.  To provide an incentive for expediting reformulation, Leeman will waive a portion of the civil penalty if American Greetings certifies by May 1, 2014 that the cards are reformulated.

For more information about the agreement, please see the case summary on the website. 

American Greetings is a billion-dollar corporation that sells greetings cards and other products.

The Chanler Group represents citizen enforcers who, acting in the public interest, commence actions against businesses offering products for sale in California that contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm without first providing the health hazard warning required by Proposition 65.  Citizen enforcers bringing Proposition 65 actions in the public interest may obtain a Court Judgment imposing civil penalties, an injunction requiring reformulation of products, and/or provision of health hazard warnings.  The Chanler Group has represented citizen enforcers of Proposition 65 for more than twenty years.