DiPirro v. Hobby Lobby International, Inc., et al.

Citizen enforcer Michael DiPirro and Hobby Lobby International, Inc. entered into an out-of-court Settlement Agreement on January 25, 2001.  The Settlement Agreement resolved DiPirro’s allegations that Hobby Lobby sold lead weights and lead balancing products containing lead in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings. 

Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Hobby Lobby agreed that any product it distributes or sells into California after March 1, 2001, will either not contain lead as an intended ingredient or will contain the warning language set forth in Section 2 of the agreement. 

The Settlement Agreement requires settlement payments of $5,000, 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.