Held v. Random House, Inc.

Posted: 11/05/2012  browse the case archive

On November 5, 2012, citizen enforcer Anthony E. Held, Ph.D., P.E., and settling defendant Random House, Inc. ("Random House"), entered into an out-of-court Settlement Agreement, which resolved Held's allegations that Random House sold books with vinyl covers 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, Random House agreed not to sell any books with vinyl covers in California after November 5, 2012, unless the vinyl covers contain no more than 1,000 parts per million of DEHP when analyzed using state and federally approved testing methodologies. Due to Random House's commitment to comply with these heightened standards and cooperation during the settlement process, Held agreed to credit a portion of the civil fine that would otherwise be applied.

The Settlement Agreement requires settlement payments of $41,000, 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.

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