Brimer v. Cambridge University Press

On September 3, 2013, the parties involved in the enforcement action Brimer v. Cambridge University Press, et al., executed a Consent Judgment.  In this matter, citizen enforcer Russell Brimer alleged that the defendant Cambridge University Press (“Cambridge”) sold books with vinyl/PVC covers containing the phthalate chemical di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (“DEHP”) in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings. 

As part of the settlement, Cambridge agreed not to sell any books with vinyl/PVC covers in California after September 30, 2013, unless the books contain no more than 1,000 parts per million of DEHP in any accessible part when analyzed using state and federally approved testing methodologies.  Should Cambridge provide written certification that all books sold in California after November 15, 2013, and continuing into the future, qualify as reformulated, Brimer agreed to waive a portion of the civil fine that would otherwise be applied. 

The Consent Judgment requires settlement payments of $69,000, 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.