DiPirro v. Pier 1 Imports, Inc., et al.

Citizen enforcer Michael DiPirro's suit against Pier 1 Imports, Inc. concluded through a Consent Judgment that was executed on December 11, 2002. The agreement resolved DiPirro's allegations that Pier 1 sold frames with flowers and votive holders containing the heavy metal lead in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings.

As part of the settlement, Pier 1 agreed to place Proposition 65 health hazard warnings on the covered products sold after December 6, 2002. Additionally, Pier 1 agreed to take reasonable efforts to require the manufacturer of the covered products to use lead-free solder on the covered products.

The Consent Judgment requires settlement payments of $57,800, to be 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.