Leeman v. Monoprice, Inc.

On September 29, 2016, citizen enforcer Whitney R. Leeman, Ph.D. and settling party Monoprice, Inc. (“Monoprice”) entered into an out-of-court settlement agreement.  Leeman had alleged that Monoprice sold vinyl/PVC electrical tape, tool kit cases with vinyl/PVC components, and vinyl/PVC tool grips containing the phthalate chemical di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (“DEHP”) and voltage tester cords and solder containing the heavy metal lead in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings.

As part of the settlement, Monoprice agreed not to sell any vinyl/PVC electrical tape, tool kit cases with vinyl/PVC components, vinyl/PVC tool grips, voltage tester cords, and/or solder in California after September 30, 2016, unless the products contain less than 1,000 parts per million (“ppm”) of DEHP and/or 90 ppm of lead when analyzed using state or federally approved testing methodologies, OR have Proposition 65 warnings provided.

The Settlement Agreement requires settlement payments of $27,000, 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.