Brimer v. Paramount Apparel International, Inc.

In the case Brimer v. Paramount Apparel International, Inc., the judge approved the motion to enter the Consent Judgment on March 1, 2013, which resolved citizen enforcer Russell Brimer’s allegations that the defendant Paramount Apparel International, Inc. (“Paramount”) sold hats containing the heavy metal lead in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings. 

As part of the settlement, Paramount agreed not to manufacture or import any hats in California after December 15, 2012, unless the hats contain less than 100 parts per million of lead when analyzed using state or federally approved testing methodologies.  Due to Paramount’s commitment to comply with these heightened standards and cooperation throughout the settlement process, Brimer agreed to credit a portion of the civil fine.

The Consent Judgment requires settlement payments of $40,500, 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.