Held Negotiates Settlement With Dunn-Edwards Re: DEHP in Tool Grips

Dr. Anthony Held has negotiated a settlement with Dunn-Edwards Corporation to settle allegations that the company sold hand tools with grips that contained the phthalate chemical DEHP, without the requisite health hazard warning.  DEHP is a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects and/or reproductive harm, and Proposition 65 law requires companies offering products for sale that contain DEHP to provide consumers with a “clear and reasonable” warning of the risks of exposure.

In addition to civil penalties, Dunn-Edwards has agreed to sell in California only hand tools with grips that are virtually free of DEHP and other phthalate chemicals.  Should Dunn-Edwards accelerate its product reformulation, Held has agreed to waive a portion of the penalties.

See more details about the case on our website: Held v. Dunn-Edwards Corporation.

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.