Held v. Tri-Coastal Design Group, Inc. and Spencer Gifts LLC

On October 11, 2011, citizen enforcer Anthony E. Held, Ph.D., P.E. and settling defendant Tri-Coastal Design Group Inc. ("Tri-Coastal"), entered into an out-of-court Settlement Agreement, which resolved Held's allegations that Tri-Coastal sold tote bags 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, Tri-Coastal agreed not to sell any tote bags in California after November 30, 2011, unless the tote bags are "Phthalate Free." Phthalate Free tote bags contain less than or equal to 1,000 parts per million of DEHP when analyzed using state or federally approved testing methodologies. Due to Tri-Coastal's commitment to comply by 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 $26,000, 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.