Held Files Complaint Against CWC Inventories Re: Lead and DEHP in Walking Sticks

Our client Anthony Held has filed a complaint against CWC Inventories, Inc. alleging that CWC Inventories imports, manufactures, distribute, ship, sell, and/or offer for sale in California walking sticks with vinyl/PVC grips that contain the heavy metal lead and the phthalate chemical DEHP without the requisite health hazard warning.  Lead and DEHP are known to the State of California to cause birth defects and/or reproductive harm, and under Proposition 65, companies offering products for sale that contain such hazardous chemicals must provide consumers with a "clear and reasonable" warning of the risks of exposure.

In addition to civil penalties, Held seeks an injunction to prevent CWC Inventories from offering the products for sale without a Proposition 65 warning, and any such 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.