The Chanler Group

On January 25, 2013, the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) issued a notice of its intent to list the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) as known to the State to cause reproductive toxicity. BPA has been used in reusable hard plastic water bottles and the linings of canned goods. OEHHA is currently accepting public comments on the proposed listing of BPA until February 25, 2013. 

The Chanler Group represents citizen enforcers who, acting in the public interest,  enforce each citizen’s right to know when they are exposed to toxic chemicals found in consumer products sold in California and who hold companies accountable for unwarned exposures through imposition of civil penalties and injunctive relief, often requiring the removal of the offensive chemicals. Clients of The Chanler Group have issued dozens of Proposition 65 notices to manufacturers and retailers regarding the presence of toxic chemicals in their products that are sold in California without a warning.

On January 2, 2013, Peter Englandar, John Moore, and Laurence Vinocur, clients of The Chanler Group, served a combined total of eight new 60-Day Notices of Violation on companies offering products containing phthalates and the flame retardant tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) for sale in California without a Proposition 65 warning. The products include padded chairs and padded upholstered furniture. See Partial List of Notices Below

Read the most recent notices issued by clients of The Chanler Group

During 2012, TCG clients Peter Englander and Laurence Vinocur initiated investigations into products suspected of containing the flame retardant tris phosphate--more formally tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP)--a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer. Englander and Vinocur have identified dozens of furniture products containing TDCPP, including padded chairs, padded upholstered furniture, ottomans, footstools, and storage benches. Between December 2012 and January 2013, Englander and Vinocur issued a combined 74 notices, with more planned, to multiple companies in an effort to obtain agreements from numerous furniture manufacturers and sellers to adopt an industry-wide standard to reformulate furniture products to eliminate or drastically reduce the presence of TDCPP. Englander and Vinocur are optimistic they can achieve such a change, based on the past successes of their legal team at The Chanler Group, which has successfully negotiated for reformulation of other types of products, such as in the beverageware industry, resulting in the reduction or elimination of the presence of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm.

Most recently, TCG obtained an unparalleled settlement with over 100 companies in the fashion accessory industry, resulting in the adoption of reformulation standards to virtually eliminate the presence of lead and phthalates from consumer products sold in California, and payment of millions of dollars in civil penalties to the State of California. See Fashion Accessory Industry Settlement

On December 20 and 21, 2012, Russell Brimer, Whitney Leeman, and Laurence Vinocur, clients of The Chanler Group, served a combined total of 17 new 60-Day Notices of Violation on companies offering products containing phthalates and food coloring containing 4 methylimidazole (4-MEI) for sale in California without a Proposition 65 warning. The products include various products containing vinyl and a maple flavor food product. See Partial List of Notices Below.

Read the most recent notices issued by clients of The Chanler Group

On November 15, 2012, Peter Englander, a TCG client, obtained approval of a first-of-its-kind settlement with Accoutrements, a seller of bandages and other products, in which Accoutrements agreed to reformulate its plastic adhesive bandages to be free of phthalates, chemicals known to cause reproductive harm. While Accoutrements has agreed to pay civil penalties under Proposition 65, it has also agreed to designate part of the monetary amount as a cy pres (pronounced sigh pray) award to the Silent Spring Institute, a not-for-profit organization of scientists and activists working to connect the links between environmental chemicals (such as DEHP, BBP, DBP and lead) and developmental and reproductive harm. 

The Chanler Group represents citizen enforcers who, acting in the public interest,  enforce each citizen’s right to know when they are exposed to toxic chemicals found in consumer products sold in California and who hold companies accountable for unwarned exposures through imposition of civil penalties and injunctive relief, often requiring the removal of the offensive chemicals. Clients of The Chanler Group have issued dozens of Proposition 65 notices to manufacturers and retailers regarding the presence of toxic chemicals in their products that are sold in California without a warning.