Vinocur, et al. v. CSS Industries, Inc., et al.

The parties involved in the case Vinocur, et al. v. CSS Industries, Inc., et al. executed a Consent Judgment on September 19, 2018.  In this matter, citizen enforcers Laurence Vinocur and John Moore alleged that CSS Industries, Inc. (“CSS”) and C.R. Gibson, LLC (“Gibson”) sold tool grips and carrying cases for small objects with vinyl/PVC components 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 agreement, CSS and Gibson agreed not to sell any tool grips or carrying cases for small objects with vinyl/PVC components in California after the companies receive notice of entry of the Consent Judgment, unless the products contain less than 1,000 parts per million of DEHP when analyzed using state or federally approved testing methodologies OR have Proposition 65 warnings provided.

 

The Consent Judgment required settlement payments of up to $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 Held and his counsel for their successful enforcement of this matter in the public interest.