Brimer v. Spectrum Brands, Inc.

The parties involved in the case Brimer v. Spectrum Brands, Inc. executed a Consent Judgment on May 2, 2017.  In this matter, citizen enforcer Russell Brimer alleged that Spectrum Brands, Inc. (“Spectrum”) sold lanterns and other light products, including but not limited to, flashlights and headlamps, with handles and/or other components 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 agreement, Spectrum agreed not to sell any lanterns and other light products in California after the San Francisco County Superior Court approves the Judgment, unless the products contain no more than 1,000 parts per million of DEHP in any accessible component when analyzed using state or federally approved testing methodologies, OR have Proposition 65 warnings provided.

The Consent Judgment required settlement payments of up to $65,000, 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