Brimer v. Anest Iwata-Medea, Inc.

Citizen enforcer Russell Brimer’s allegations against defendant Anest Iwata-Medea, Inc. (“Anest”) were resolved on October 6, 2014, when the parties executed a Consent Judgment.  In this matter, Brimer alleged that Anest sold metal hose nozzle fittings containing the heavy metal lead in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings.

As part of the settlement, Anest agreed not to sell any metal hose nozzle fittings or related valves, nozzles, needles or other airbrush and spray gun components in California after the Alameda County Superior Court approves the Consent Judgment, unless the products contain less than 100 parts per million of lead when analyzed using state or federally approved testing methodologies or Proposition 65 warnings are provided.  Should Anest provide written certification by March 15, 2015, that all covered products sold in California qualify as reformulated, Brimer agreed to waive a portion of the civil fine. 

The Consent Judgment requires settlement payments of $48,500, divided therein between civil penalties, 75% of which are paid to California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and compensation to whistleblower Brimer and his counsel for their successful enforcement of this matter in the public interest.