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  • WHITNEY LEEMAN PHD VS. NEWEGG, INC ET AL OTHER NON EXEMPT COMPLAINTS document preview
  • WHITNEY LEEMAN PHD VS. NEWEGG, INC ET AL OTHER NON EXEMPT COMPLAINTS document preview
  • WHITNEY LEEMAN PHD VS. NEWEGG, INC ET AL OTHER NON EXEMPT COMPLAINTS document preview
  • WHITNEY LEEMAN PHD VS. NEWEGG, INC ET AL OTHER NON EXEMPT COMPLAINTS document preview
  • WHITNEY LEEMAN PHD VS. NEWEGG, INC ET AL OTHER NON EXEMPT COMPLAINTS document preview
  • WHITNEY LEEMAN PHD VS. NEWEGG, INC ET AL OTHER NON EXEMPT COMPLAINTS document preview
  • WHITNEY LEEMAN PHD VS. NEWEGG, INC ET AL OTHER NON EXEMPT COMPLAINTS document preview
  • WHITNEY LEEMAN PHD VS. NEWEGG, INC ET AL OTHER NON EXEMPT COMPLAINTS document preview
						
                                

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MEUM SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO Document Scanning Lead Sheet Mar-30-2017 4:30 pm Case Number: CGC-14-542330 Filing Date: Mar-30-2017. 4:30 Filed by: ERICKA LARNAUTI Image: 05804331 ~ TEXT JUDGMENT WHITNEY LEEMAN PHD VS. NEWEGG, INC ET AL 001005804331 Instructions: Please ‘place this sheet on top of the document to be scanned.Brian C. Johnson, State Bar No. 235965 Josh Voorhees, State Bar No. 241436 THE CHANLER GROUP 2560 Ninth Street Parker Plaza, Suite 214 Berkeley, CA 94710 Telephone: (510) 848-8880 Facsimile: (510) 848-8118 brian@chanler.com josh@chanler.com Attorneys for Plaintiff WHITNEY R. LEEMAN, PH.D. " SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO UNLIMITED CIVIL JURISDICTION WHITNEY R. LEEMAN, PH.D., Plaintiff, v. NEWEGG INC., et al., Defendants. Case No. CGC-14-542330 JUDGMENT PURSUANT TO TERMS OF PROPOSITION 65 SETTLEMENT AND CONSENT JUDGMENT Date: Time: Dept.: Judge: March 30, 2017 9:30 a.m. 302 Hon. Harold E. Kahn Reservation No. 02080330-01 JUDGMENT PURSUANT TO TERMS OF PROPOSITION 65 SETTLEMENT AND CONSENT JUDGMENTCo Oe NY Dn FF BW NHN Se a a a a a oN AnH Bw KH S| Plaintiff Whitney R. Leeman, Ph.D. and defendants Newegg Inc., Magnell Associate, Inc., and Rosewill Inc., having agreed through their respective counsel that Judgment be entered pursuant to the terms of their settlement agreement in the form of a consent judgment, and following this Court’s issuance of an order approving their Proposition 65 settlement and Consent Judgment, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that, pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 25249.7(£)(4) and Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6, judgment is hereby entered in accordance with the terms of the Consent Judgment attached hereto as Exhibit 1. By stipulation of the parties, the Court will retain jurisdiction to enforce the terms of the settlement under Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6. IT IS SO ORDERED. .alasta AVE Dated __iashr JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT HAROLD KAHN 1 JUDGMENT PURSUANT TO TERMS OF PROPOSITION 65 SETTLEMENT AND CONSENT JUDGMENT COC -lU-SULBEOEXHIBIT 1Coe Ya DH HA BF WN 10 Brian C. Johnson, State Bar No. 235965 Josh Voorhees, State Bar No. 241436 THE CHANLER GROUP 2560 Ninth Street Parker Plaza, Suite 214 Berkeley, CA 94710 Telephone: (510) 848-8880 ||Facsumile: (510) 848-8118 brian@chanler.com josh@chanler.com Attomeys for Plaintiff WHITNEY R. LEEMAN, PH.D. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO _ UNLIMITED CIVIL JURISDICTION WHITNEY R, LEEMAN, PILD., ) CASE NO. CGC-14-542330 Plaintiff, } [PROPOSED] CONSENT J JUDGMENT vs. ; (Health & Safety Code § 25249.6 et seq. NEWEGG INC., ef al., ) and Code of Civil Procedure § 664.6) Defendant. } ) L INTRODUCTION 1.1. Parties This Consent Judgment is entered into by and between plaintiff Whitney R. Leeman, Ph.D. (“Leeman”) on the one hand, and defendants Newegg Inc., Magnell Associate, Inc., and Rosewill Inc. (“Defendants”) on the other hand, with Leeman and Defendants each referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.” 12 Plaintiff Leeman is a resident of the State of California who seeks to promote awareness of exposures to toxic chemicals, and improve human health by reducing or eliminating harmful substances contained in consumer and commercial products. 1.3 Defendant Defendants each employ ten or more persons and are each a person in the course of doing} -1- [Proposed] Consent JudgmentCe QD HH Fw NY we oe oe N =| Oo 13 business for purposes of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, California Health and Safety Code section 25249.5 et seq. (‘Proposition 65”). 1.4 General Allegations Leeman alleges that Defendants manufacture, import, sell and/or distribute for sale in California, audio headsets with vinyl/PVC cords and other components containing di(2- ethylhexyl) phthalate (“DEHP”), and backpacks with vinyl/PVC handles and other components containing DEHP, and that they do so without providing the health hazard warning required by Proposition 65. . 1.5 Product Description For purposes of this Consent Judgment, “Products” are defined as: (a) audio headsets with vinyl/PVC cords and other components containing DEHP; and (b) backpacks with vinyl/PVC handles and/or other components containing DEHP that are manufactured, sold, or distributed for sale in California by Defendants. Products specifically includes, but is not limited to, the (i) Rosewill USB Headset, Model No. RHM-6308, UPC #8 98745 03915 3; (ii) Rosewill Ergonomic Designed Headset, RHM-556, UPC #8 98745 01696 3; (iii) Rosewill Multimedia Stereo Headset, RH-001, UPC #8 98745 00949 1; and (iv) Rosewill 15.6” Notebook Backpack/Computer Bag, RMBP-11001, UPC #8 98745 04517 8. In addition, the items identified on Exhibit “A” to this Consent Judgment are also. included within the scope of the term “Products.” 1.6 Notices of Violation On July 30, 2014, Leeman served Defendants, the California Attorney General, and all other requisite public enforcement agencies with a 60-Day Notice of Violation (“Notice”), alleging that Defendants violated Proposition 65 when they failed to warn their customers and consumers in California that the audio headset products expose users to DEHP. On March 23, 2016, Leeman served Defendants, Defendants’ retail customers, Amazon.com, Inc. (“Amazon”), and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (“Wal-Mart”), the California Attorney General, and all other requisite public enforcement agencies with a Supplemental 60-Day Notice of Violation (“Supplemental Notice”), alleging that Defendants, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.com, Inc. all violated Proposition 65 2- ~~ [Proposed] Consent JudgmentoOo a DH PF WwW Hw 10 when they failed to warn their customers and consumers in California that the Products expose users to DEHP. The Notice and Supplemental Notice are referred to collectively as the “Notices.” No public enforcer has commenced and is diligently prosecuting an action to enforce the allegations set forth in either of the Notices. 1.7. Complaint On October 23, 2014, Leeman commenced the instant action, naming Newegg Inc., Magnell Associate, Inc., and Rosewill Inc. as defendants for the alleged violations of Proposition 65 that are the subject of the Notice. Thereafter, on July 19, 2016, Leeman filed a first amended complaint, the operative pleading in this action (“Complaint”), adding Amazon and Wal-Mart as defendants, and alleging additional violations of Proposition 65 regarding DEHP in Detendants’ backpack products, as alleged in the Supplemental Notice. 1.8 No Admission Defendants deny the material, factual, and legal allegations contained in the Notices.and Complaint, and maintain that all of the products that they have sold or distributed for sale in California, including the Products, have been and are, in compliance with all laws. Nothing in this Consent Judgment shall be construed as an admission by any of the Defendants of any fact, finding, conclusion of law, issue of Jaw, or violation of law, nor shall compliance with this Consent Judgment constitute or be construed as an admission by any of the Defendants of any fact, finding, conclusion of law, issue of law, or violation of law. This Section shall not, however, diminish or otherwise affect Defendants’ obligations, responsibilities, and duties under this Consent Judgment. 19 — Jurisdiction For purposes of this Consent Judgment only, the Parties stipulate that this Court has jurisdiction over Defendants as to the allegations contained in the Complaint, that venue is proper in the County of San Francisco, and that the Court has jurisdiction to enter and enforce the provisions of this Consent Judgment pursuant to Proposition 65 and Code of Civil Procedure séction 664.6. Hl 3. [Proposed] Consent Judgment1.10 Effective Date For purposes of this Consent Judgment, the term “Effective Date” shall mean the date that the Court grants the motion for approval of this Consent Judgment contemplated by Section 5. 2. INJUNCTIVE SETTLEMENT TERMS: REFORMULATED PRODUCTS Commencing ninety (90) days after the Effective Date, and continuing thereafter, Defendants shall only manufacture for sale, or purchase for sale in California, Reformulated Products. For purposes of this Consent Judgment, “Reformulated Products” are defined as Products with a maximum DEHP concentration 1,000 parts per million (0.1 %) in any component analyzed pursuant to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency testing methodologies 3580A and 8270C, or other methodologies utilized by state or federal agencies for the purpose of determining DEHP content in a solid substance. 3. MONETARY SETTLEMENT TERMS 3.1. Payments Pursuant to Health and Safety Code § 25249.7(b)(2) Pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 25249.7(b)(2), and in settlement of all the claims referred to in the Notices or this Consent Judgment, Defendants have agreed, jointly and | severally, to be responsible for and to pay civil penalties in the amount of $14,000, The Defendants’ penalty payment will be allocated in accordance with California Health & Safety Code § 25249.12(c)(1) and (d), with 75% of the funds remitted to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (“OEHHA”) and the remaining 25% of the penalty remitted to Leeman. Defendants shall provide their payment in two checks for the following .|| amounts payable to (a) “OEHHA” in the amount of $10,500; and (b) “Whitney R. Leeman, Client Trust Account” in the amount of $3,500. Leeman’s counsel shall be responsible for remitting Defendants’ penalty payment(s) under this Consent Judgment to OEHHA. 3.2. Reimbursement of Attorneys’ Fees and Costs The Parties acknowledge that Leeman and her counsel offered to resolve this dispute without reaching terms on the amount of fees and costs to be reimbursed to them, thereby leaving the issue to be resolved after the material terms of the agreement had been settled. ode [Proposed] Consent JudgmentCo Oo DN KH HW RB Ww = oS Shortly after the other settlement terms had been finalized, the Parties then negotiated a resolution of the compensation due to Leeman and her counsel under general contract principles || and the private attorney general doctrine codified at California Code of Civil Procedure § 1021.5. For all work performed through the mutual execution of this agreement and the Court’s approval of the same, but exclusive of fees and costs on appeal, if any, Defendants shall reimburse Leeman and her counsel $49,000. Defendants’ payment shall be delivered in the form of a check payable to “The Chanler Group.” Defendants’ reimbursement shall cover all fees and costs incurred by Leeman investigating, bringing this matter to Defendants’ attention, litigating, and negotiating a settlement in the public interest, 3.3. Payment Timing; Enforcement of Payment Terms Defendants shall deliver all payments required by this Consent Judgment to Leeman’s counsel within ten (10) days of the Effective Date. In the event that any payment required by this Consent Judgment is untimely, the Parties agree and acknowledge that (a) Defendants shall be liable to Leeman for ten percent (10%) simple interest per annum on any unpaid amount(s); (b) Leeman may seek to enforce Defendants’ payment obligations under general contract principles and Code of Civil Procedure sections 664.6; and (c) Leeman shall be entitled to any fees incurred recovering such settlement payments pursuant to general contract principles and Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5. 3.4. Payment Address All payments required by this Consent Judgment shall be delivered to: The Chanler Group Attn: Proposition 65 Controller 2560 Ninth Street Parker Plaza, Suite 214 Berkeley, CA 94710 4, CLAIMS COVERED AND RELEASED 4.1. Leeman’s Release of Proposition 65 Claims Leeman, acting on her own behalf and in the public interest, releases Defendants and each of their parents, subsidiaries, affiliated entities under common ownership, directors, officers, employees, and attorneys (“Releasees”) and each entity to whom they directly or Se [Proposed] Consent JudgmentCoo AN DH RR wWwN | Re |e ee Be Be we Be Be Se SF S © em AA WPF BW HE TS 22 indirectly distribute or sell the Products including, but not limited to, their downstream distributors, wholesalers, marketplace hosts, direct or indirect customers (including, without limitation, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Walmart.com USA LLC, EP Holdings, Inc., and Amazon.com, Tne. and their respective parents, subsidiaries and affiliates), retailers, franchisers, coopcrative meinbers, licensors and licensees (“Downstream Releasees”) from all claims arising under Proposition 65 and alleging a failure to warn about exposures to DEHP in Products manufactured, imported, sold or distributed for sale in Califomia by Defendants prior to the Effective Date, as set forth in the Notices. Compliance with the terms of this Consent Judgment ‘constitutes compliance with Proposition 65 by Defendants with respect to the alleged or actual failure to warn about exposures to DEHP in Products manufactured, sold, or distributed for sale | by Defendants after the Effective Date. 4.2 Leeman’s Individual Release of Claims Leeman, in her individual capacity only and not in any representative capacity, also provides a release to Defendants, Releasees, and Downstream Releasees which shall be effective as a full and final accord and satisfaction, as a bar to all actions, causes of action, obligations, costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees, damages, losses, claims, liabilities and demands of any nature, | character or kind, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, arising out of alleged or actual exposures to DEHP in Products manufactured, imported, sold or distributed for sale by Defendants before the Effective Date. 4.3 Defendants’ Release of Leeman Defendants, each on its own behalf, and on behalf of its past and current agents, representatives, attorneys, successors, and assignees, hereby waive any and all claims against _|| Leeman and her attorneys and other representatives, for any and all actions taken or statements made by Leeman and her attorneys and other representatives, whether in the course of investigating claims, seeking to enforce Proposition 65 against them in this matter, or with respect to the Products. ‘ ‘1 i} -6- [Proposed] Consent Judgmentwo Oo YW KH HA RF BW NY Roe oe be 6S 13 5. COURT APPROVAL This Consent Judgment is not effective until it is approved and entered by the Court and shall be null and void if, for any reason, it is not approved and entered by the Court within one year after it has been fully executed by the Parties, or by such additional time to which the Parties may agrec to in writing. Leeman and Defendants agree to support the entry of this agreement as a judgment, and to obtain the Court’s approval of their settlement in a timely manner. The Parties acknowledge that, pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section 25249.7(f), a noticed motion is required for judicial approval of this Consent Judgment, which motion Leeman shall draft and file and Defendants shall support, including by appearing at the hearing if so requested. If any third-party objection to the motion is filed, Leeman and Defendants agree to work together to file a reply and appear at any hearing. This provision is a material component of the Consent Judgment and shall be treated as such in the event of a breach. 6. DISMISSAL OF RETAILER DEFENDANTS Within five (5) days of receiving the settlement payments required by Sections 3.1 and 3.2, or ten (10) days after the Effective Date, whichever is later, Leeman agrees to file a request for dismissal without prejudice as to defendants Amazon.com, Inc., and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 1 SEVERABILITY Tf, subsequent to the Court’s approval and entry of this Consent Judgment as a judgment, any provision of this Consent Judgment is held by a court to be unenforceable, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be adversely affected. 18. GOVERNING LAW The terms of this Consent Judgment shall be governed by the laws of the State of California and apply within the State of California. In the event that Proposition 65 is repealed, preempted, or is otherwise rendered inapplicable by reason of law generally, or as to the Products, then Defendants may provide Leeman with written notice of any asserted change in the law, and shall have no further injunctive obligations pursuant to this Consent Judgment, with respect to, and to the extent that, the Products are so affected. Te [Proposed] Consent JudgmentCoo YN DH mW BF WN 10 9. NOTICE Unless specified herein, all correspondence and notice required by this Consent Judgment shall be in writing and sent by: (i) personal delivery, (ii) first-class registered or certified mail, return receipt requested; or (iii) a recognized overnight courier to any Party by the other at the following addresses: To Defendants: To. Leeman: Brian M. Ledger, Esq. The Chanler Group Gordon & Rees LLP Attn: Prop 65 Coordinator 101 W. Broadway Suite 2000 2560 Ninth Street San Diego, CA 92101 Parker Plaza, Suite 214 Berkeley, CA 94710-2565 Any Party may, from time to time, specify in writing to the other Party a change of address to which all notices and other communications shall be sent. 10. COUNTERPARTS AND FACSIMILE SIGNATURES This Consent Judgment may be executed in counterparts and by facsimile signature, each of which shall be deemed an original and, all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same document. 11. COMPLIANCE WITH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Leeman and her counsel agree to comply with the reporting form requirements referenced in Califomia Health and Safety Code section 25249.7(f). 12. MODIFICATION This Consent Judgment may be modified only by: (i) a written agreement of the Parties and the entry of a modified Consent Judgment by the Court thereon; or (ii) upon a successful ' mation of any party and the entry of a modified Consent Judgment by the Court thereon. 13. AUTHORIZATION The undersigned are authorized to execute this Consent Judgment on behalf of their respective Parties and have read, understood, and agree to all of the terms and conditions of this Consent Judgment. Ht -8- [Proposed] Consent Judgmentee wo et AAA DHE TS faorsaaa11312s80.1 Ce a DA ufa w Ww [Proposed] Consent Judgment AGREED TO: AGREED TO: Date: pate:___O/as/2orm ~T By: By EO | ane WHOTINEY RDEEMAN, PH.D, ae A] vee te ... Printed Nane:_. James We Title: COCO NEWEGG INC. AGREED TO: AGREED TO: Date: o1las/2o17 Date: ©1 /as/201a ited Nae: James Wy iE James Wu Title: Coo Title: CON... "ROSEWILL INC. MAGNELL ASSOCIATE, INC. 9Now bwoN ow ee i a NS RRRBBBRBEBPSEDAAREBEBRES s01e89/31131253v.1 CoC eo ra DAW BR WN AGREED TO: AGREED TO: Date: 1/19/2017 Date: By: 4 MLL J By: . WHITNEY Rf LEEMAN, PH.D. Printed Name: Title: NEWEGG INC. AGREED TO: AGREED TO: Date: Date: By: By: Printed Name: . Printed Name: | Tite: Title: ROSEWILL INC. MAGNELL ASSOCIATE, INC. 9- [Proposed] Consent JudgmentExhibit “A” to Consent Judgment 1, All audio headsets with vinyl/PVC cords and/or other components containing DEHP that were manufactured, imported, sold, or distributed by Defendants in California. 2. All backpacks with vinyl/PVC handles and/or other components containing DEHP that were manufactured, imported, sold, or distributed by Defendants in California. 3._ All Notebook Backpacks and Computer Bags with components containing DEHP that were manufactured, imported, sold, or distributed by Defendants in California. 0ns8B/3112778y.1