Vinocur and InMusic Brands Settle Re: DEHP in Headphones

Posted: 07/24/2015  browse the blog archive
Vinocur and InMusic Brands Settle Re: DEHP in Headphones

Laurence Vinocur has successfully negotiated a settlement with InMusic Brands, Numark International, and Numark Industries (collectively, “InMusic”) regarding alleged violations of Proposition 65.  Vinocur had alleged that InMusic sold headphones with vinyl/PVC components that contained the phthalate chemical DEHP, which is known to the State of California to cause birth defects and other reproductive harm, without the requisite Proposition 65 health hazard warning.

In addition to paying civil penalties, InMusic has agreed to provide consumers with a “clear and reasonable” warning of the risk of exposure or sell only headphones that are virtually free of not only DEHP, but additional phthalate chemicals DBP, BBP, and DINP.  Should InMusic provide certification to Vinocur by November 1, 2015 that all its headphones sold in California meet these reformulation standards, then Vinocur has agreed to waive a portion of the civil penalty.

To read the settlement itself, see the case summary on our website: Vinocur v. InMusic Brands, et al.

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.