High Chairs to be Reformulated Thanks to Vinocur’s Work
Laurence Vinocur, a client of The Chanler Group, negotiated an agreement with Joovy Holding Co. to ensure that Joovy’s high chairs are free of the carcinogenic flame retardant tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP). The high chairs were sold throughout California from retailers such as Babies “R” Us and BuyBuy Baby.
Vinocur alleged that Joovy violated Proposition 65 by selling high chairs that contain TDCPP in California without providing a health hazard warning. Under Proposition 65, companies offering products for sale in California that contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm must provide a health hazard warning.
As part of the agreement, Joovy agreed to reformulate all of its high chairs to virtually eliminate TDCPP, and will notify its vendors to sell only the reformulated products. Joovy will also pay civil penalties of $27,000, 75 percent of which are earmarked for California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. As an incentive for comprehensive reformulation, Vinocur will waive a portion of the civil fine should Joovy certify that the high chairs are free of another toxic flame retardant, tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate (“TDBPP”).
For more information about the agreement, please see the case summary on the website.
Joovy sells dozens of infant and child products including toys, furniture, and baby carriers.
The Chanler Group represents citizen enforcers who, acting in the public interest, commence actions against businesses offering products for sale in California that contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm without first providing the health hazard warning required by Proposition 65. Citizen enforcers bringing Proposition 65 actions in the public interest may obtain a Court Judgment imposing civil penalties, an injunction requiring reformulation of products, and/or provision of health hazard warnings. The Chanler Group has represented citizen enforcers of Proposition 65 for more than twenty years.