Leeman Files Complaint Against Office Depot Alleging DEHP in Hand Tools

Dr. Whitney Leeman has filed a complaint in Marin County Superior Court alleging that Office Depot violated Proposition 65 by selling tools containing the phthalate chemical DEHP without the requisite health hazard warning.  DEHP is known to the State of California to cause birth defects and/or other reproductive harm, and Proposition 65 requires companies offering products that contain DEHP to provide consumers with a “clear and reasonable” warning of the risk of exposure.

In addition to civil penalties, Leeman seeks an injunction prohibiting Office Depot from selling the products in California without a Proposition 65 warning.

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.