DiPirro v. Hexacon Electric Company, et al.

On October 25, 1999, Michael DiPirro and Hexacon Electric Company entered into a settlement agreement which resolved citizen enforcer Michael DiPirro's allegations that Hexacon manufactured, distributed, or sold soldering pots and irons containing formaldehyde, lead, and lead compounds in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings.

The terms of the parties' settlement require Hexacon to immediately implement and provide specific and prominent health hazard warnings on package inserts placed in the packaging of its products, and for the products sold in bulk to distributors. Hexacon stipulated to provide instructions to such distributors to transfer the warning to the customers. In addition, Hexacon agreed to send a letter to its customers established before December 30, 1999, and all new customers, providing instructions to Hexacon's customers to transfer the warning to their customers.

The settlement requires settlement payments of $15,540 divided therein between civil penalties, 75% of which are paid to California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and compensation to whistleblower Michael DiPirro and his counsel for their successful enforcement of this matter in the public interest.