Leeman v. Poolmaster, Inc.

Posted: 12/11/2013  browse the case archive

Citizen enforcer Whitney Leeman and settling defendant Poolmaster, Inc. (“Poolmaster”) entered into an out-of-court Settlement Agreement on December 11, 2013, which resolved Leeman’s allegations that Poolmaster sold vinyl/PVC long-handled tool grips 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, Poolmaster agreed not to sell the tool grips in California after December 15, 2013, unless the grips contain no more than 1,000 parts per million (0.1%) of DEHP when analyzed using state or federally approved testing methodologies.  Should Poolmaster provide written certification that all tool grips meet reformulation standards by January 1, 2014, Leeman agreed to waive a portion of the civil fine that would otherwise be applied.

The Settlement Agreement requires settlement payments of $38,000, divided therein between civil penalties, 75% of which are 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.  

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