DiPirro v. Don Sherwood's Golf & Tennis World, et al.

Citizen enforcer Michael DiPirro and Don Sherwood’s Golf & Tennis World entered into an out-of-court Settlement Agreement on December 29, 2000.  This agreement was later brought before the Alameda County Superior Court for approval.  The Settlement Agreement resolved DiPirro’s allegations that Sherwood’s sold lead tape and other lead balancing products containing the heavy metal lead in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings. 

As part of the settlement, Sherwood’s agreed to initiate revisions to its health hazard warnings for all products to be sold in California so that the warning complies with Section 1.1 of the Agreement.  Additionally, Sherwood’s agreed, beginning on January 15, 2001, to not knowingly sell (or cause to be sold) any products containing lead in California unless they complied with the warning language found in Section 1.1. 

The Settlement Agreement requires settlement payments of $8,500 divided therein between civil penalties, 75% of which are paid to California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and compensation to whistleblower DiPirro and his counsel for their successful enforcement of this matter in the public interest.