Held v. M.M. and R., Incorporated

On August 15, 2011, citizen enforcer Anthony E. Held, Ph.D., P.E. and settling defendant M.M. and R., Incorporated ("M.M. and R.") entered into an out-of-court Settlement Agreement, which resolved Held's allegations that M.M. and R. sold belts 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, M.M. and R. agreed not to manufacture any belts in California after July 30, 2011, unless the belts contain less than or equal to .1% of DEHP when analyzed using state or federally approved testing methodologies. Also, M.M. and R. agreed that 100% of the belts offered for sale in California after July 30, 2011, shall comply with these regulations and qualify as "Phthalate Free." Due to M.M. and R.'s commitment to comply by these heightened standards and cooperation throughout the settlement, Held agreed to credit a portion of the civil fine that would otherwise be applied.

The Settlement Agreement requires settlement payments of $28,000, divided therein between civil penalties, 75% of which are paid to California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and compensation to whistleblower Held and his counsel for their successful enforcement of this matter in the public interest.