In eight cities across the country, The Chanler Group, on behalf of the citizen enforcers and other whistleblowers it represents, seeks to uncover toxic chemical exposures and government fraud in our everyday lives, to hold those entities responsible for such violations of state and federal law accountable to the public, and to effectuate change for a cleaner environment.
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Sherwin-Williams Co. was fined $1 million in penalties as part of a settlement of lawsuits brought on by As You Sow, alleging violation of California's Prop 65. This particular settlement is part of a broad agreement resulting from multiple suits against Sherwin-Williams and thirty-seven other companies who produce and distribute spray paint and adhesive products. The $1 million fine is the largest penalty to date under Prop 65. Sherwin-Williams plans to explore options in toluene removal... full text
The attorney general's office and As You Sow both prosecuted Sherwin-Williams, the largest producer of spray paint in California, as well as 38 other companies for violation of Prop 65 by failing to provide a clear warning label on the products that contain toluene, a chemical known to cause cancer. Sherwin-Williams has agreed to pay a $1 million penalty under Prop 65 as settlement. Other companies in violation include Ace Hardware, DAP Products, and ITW-Devcon. full text
In response to As You Sow's lawsuit against spray paint and adhesive producers, many companies including Sherwin-Williams, Ace Hardware, Minwax and Testor will now be required to comply with California's health warning law. Many of the companies will be required to either reformulate their products to remove toluene, a chemical known to cause birth defects, or to market non-toxic alternatives. Using investigative evidence gathered by As You Sow, the California Attorney General filed... full text
In a series of actions that have highlighted interest in the enforcement of Proposition 65, As You Sow has singularly filed and settled more than 125 Propositions 65 lawsuits within 18-24 months of startup. As You Sow has collected more than $1 million in reimbursements for investigative costs and attorney's fees from manufacturers of spray paints, adhesives, and nail polishes. The organization, said its attorney, Clifford Chanler of the San Francisco firm Chanler & Associates, is... full text
Toluene, a chemical frequently used in the production of spray paint and gasoline, is the second most common ingredient in nail polish and is known to cause birth defects when inhaled by pregnant women. While Toluene is undeniably harmful, many nail polish manufacturers claim that the amount inhaled through nail polish is not harmful. Much of this debate is derived from the several lawsuits filed by As You Sow against leading nail manufacturers. Revlon, Christian Dior and Maybelline have... full text
Maybelline, Christian Dior, Elizabeth Arden, and Chesebrough-Ponds' Cutex have reached a settlement in As You Sow's lawsuit claiming violation of Proposition 65. The four major nail polish manufacturers, along with 22 other manufacturers who have settled with As You Sow, agreed to stop manufacturing and selling any products in California containing toluene, which is listed as a reproductive toxin under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, also known as Proposition 65. full text
Rust-Oleum Corp, an Illinois paint manufacturer, has reached a settlement with As You Sow in response to allegations of inadequate warning of toluene in paint products under Proposition 65. Rust-Oleum agreed to supply warning labels to products still on the shelves. As You Sow sent 60-day notices of Proposition 65 violations to more than 40 paint and adhesives companies between October 1992 and January 1993. Chanler & Associates represented As You Sow in the legal proceedings of all the... full text
San Francisco's As You Sow sued over 40 nail polish manufacturers in April for failing to warn consumers of the hazardous side effects from the toxic chemical toluene. The defendants claim the substance is harmless in tiny amounts and does not warrant a warning label. Toluene was rated the 37th most toxic chemical by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in 1992. As You Sow strives to "encourage if not enforce reformulation of nail polishes that contain toluene,... full text
Four nail-polish manufacturers have settled lawsuits with As You Sow involving illegal chemical use in their products. As You Sow, an environmental group, sued Revlon Inc., Pavlon Ltd., Jonel, and Artmatic USA Cosmetics for use of toluene, a chemical known to cause birth defects. The companies have settled, agreeing to stop using toluene in their products and halt distribution of toluene-containing nail polishes in California. As You Sow has filed suit against a total of forty-three nail-polish... full text
Six companies have settled with As You Sow in lawsuits alleging violations of Proposition 65. The action alleges that under Proposition 65 both consumers and manicurists have a right to know the risks and side effects of toluene to pregnant women using nail polish containing the chemical. The settlement provides that Nutress Laboratories, Gar Labs, Gens Labs, Nails 2000, American Manicure Corp., and Jonel Inc. will immediately begin to eliminate toluene from their nail polish, and will make... full text
