Leeman v. Intertape Polymer Corp.

On February 25, 2015, the parties executed an out-of-court Settlement Agreement, which resolved the allegations that whistleblower Dr. Whitney R, Leeman made against settling party Intertape Polymer Corp. (“Intertape”).  In this matter, Leeman alleged that Intertape sold vinyl/PVC electrical tape 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, Intertape agreed not to sell any vinyl/PVC electrical tape in California after March 1, 2015, unless the grips contain less than 1,000 parts per million of DEHP in any accessible component when analyzed using state or federally approved testing methodologies, or have Proposition 65 warnings provided.

The Settlement Agreement requires settlement payments of $41,700, divided therein between civil penalties, 75% of which are paid to California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and compensation to citizen enforcer Leeman and her counsel for their successful enforcement of this matter in the public interest.