Brimer v. Springs Global US, Inc.

Citizen enforcer Russell Brimer’s allegations against defendant Springs Global US, Inc. (“Springs Global”) were resolved on September 10, 2014, when the parties executed a Consent Judgment.  In this matter, Brimer alleged that Springs Global sold vinyl/PVC bags and vinyl/PVC zipper pulls 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, Springs Global agreed not to sell any vinyl/PVC bags or vinyl/PVC zipper pulls in California after September 30, 2014, unless the bags and zipper pulls contain the clear and reasonable Proposition 65 warnings outlined in Section 2.1 of the Consent Judgment.   Additionally, Springs Global agreed to notify its distributors and retailers and request that the bags and zipper pulls contain the health hazard warnings. 

The Consent Judgment requires settlement payments of $22,500, 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.