Held Files Complaint Against Building Materials Holdings Corp. Alleging DEHP in Tape Measures

Dr. Anthony Held last week filed a complaint in Santa Clara County Superior Court alleging that Building Materials Holdings Corp. is offering for sale in California tape measures with vinyl/PVC straps and grips containing di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) without the requisite health hazard warnings.  DEHP is a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm, and under Proposition 65, companies selling products containing DEHP must provide consumers with a health hazard warning.

Held seeks injunctive relief in the form of civil penalties, "clear and reasonable" warnings, and other and further relief as the court deems just and proper.

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.