Leeman v. Big Lots Stores, Inc., et al.

On September 21, 2005, Whitney Leeman, Big Lots Stores, Inc. and PNS Stores, Inc. reached a settlement agreement that resolved citizen enforcer Whitney R. Leeman, Ph.D.'s allegations that the defendants sold glass and metal terrariums/greenhouses containing the heavy metal lead in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings.

As part of the settlement, Big Lots agreed not to sell in California glass and metal terrariums/greenhouses unless they contain 0.1% or less lead by weight, when analyzed pursuant to state and federally approved testing methodologies, or have Proposition 65 warnings provided.

The Consent Judgment required settlement payments of $20,000, divided therein between civil penalties, 75% of which are paid to California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and compensation to whistleblower Dr. Leeman and her counsel for their successful enforcement of this matter in the public interest.