DiPirro v. Central Purchasing, Inc. dba Harbor Freight Tools, et al.

On July 3, 2002, citizen enforcer Michael DiPirro and settling party Central Purchasing Inc. dba Harbor Freight Tools (collectively "Harbor") entered into an out-of-court Settlement Agreement, which resolved DiPirro's allegations that Harbor sold certain brass instruments, brass and brass-faced hammers, and other brass products containing lead and lead compounds in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings.

As part of the settlement, beginning July 30, 2002, Harbor agreed that it will not knowingly sell any products, unless the products have Proposition 65 warnings provided pursuant to the Agreement.

The Settlement Agreement requires settlement payments of $2,500, divided therein between civil penalties, 75% of which are paid to California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and compensation to whistleblower DiPirro and his counsel for their successful enforcement of this matter in the public interest.