Leeman v. Trimas Corporation

In the enforcement action Leeman v. Trimas Corporation, et al., citizen enforcer Dr. Whitney Leeman’s allegations against defendant Cequent Consumer Products, Inc. (“Cequent”) were resolved on June 27, 2014, when the parties executed a Consent Judgment.  In this matter, Leeman alleged that Cequent sold automotive storage organizers with vinyl/PVC handles 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, Cequent agreed not to sell any automotive storage organizers with vinyl/PVC handles in California after July 7, 2014, unless the products contain no more than .1% DEHP when analyzed using state or federally approved testing methodologies, or unless the products are sold with a clear and reasonable warning.  Should Cequent provide written certification that all of its automotive storage organizers with vinyl/PVC handles sold in California after August 15, 2014 qualify as reformulated, Leeman agreed to waive a portion of the civil fine. 

The Consent Judgment requires settlement payments of $42,000, 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.