Leeman v. Belkin Components, et al.

The Superior Court of California for the City and County of San Francisco entered a Consent Judgment on November 3, 2004 in Leeman v. Belkin Components, et al. The settlement resolved citizen enforcer Dr. Whitney R. Leeman's allegations that defendant Belkin manufactured, distributed or sold solder (containing lead) including those sold in computer tool kits in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings.

As part of the settlement, Belkin agreed such products were to bear the appropriate Proposition 65 health hazard warning until July 1, 2004, at which time all such products were to be reformulated to be virtually lead-free, pursuant to the conditions of Paragraph 1(b) of the Agreement, and would therefore no longer require a warning.

The Consent Judgment required settlement payments of $62,375, divided therein between civil penalties, 75% of which were paid to California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and compensation to whistleblower Leeman and her counsel for their successful enforcement of this matter in the public interest.