Court Approves Proposition 65 Settlement For Anheuser-Busch, LLC; Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; Heineken USA Incorporated; Beam Inc.; Millercoors LLC; and Pernod Ricard USA, LLC
This news update on Proposition 65 Settlement is brought to you by Digital Journal.
Proposition 65 Settlement
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mel Red Recana granted Plaintiffs’ Motion to Approve a Consent Judgment on Friday, May 30, 2014, Case #BC537188. The Consent Judgment is between 4 California Plaintiffs and a group of Defendants made up of several of the largest alcohol manufacturing companies in the world, including: Anheuser-Busch, LLC; Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; Heineken USA Incorporated; Beam Inc.; Millercoors LLC; Nolet Spirits U.S.A.; Pabst Brewing Company; and Pernod Ricard USA, LLC.
California Health and Safety Code § 25249.6 et seq. (“Proposition 65“) requires warnings to be posted in all retail establishments that sell alcoholic beverages in the state of California regarding the potential detrimental effects of alcohol to pregnant women. As detailed in the Consent Judgment, beginning in March, 2013, the 4 Plaintiffs served 60-Day Notices on behalf of the general public of California to the Defendants alleging violations of Proposition 65. Specifically, the notices alleged that retail establishments across the state were selling the Defendants’ alcoholic beverage products without posting the Warning signs required by Proposition 65.
The approved Consent Judgment requires the Defendants to implement a new system of providing signage to retailers that sell their alcoholic beverage products. The Defendants are now required to send out signage every 5 years to each retail establishment in the state of California that is licensed to sell alcoholic beverage products, as well as to all new licensees every 6 months. The Defendants will also be required to create a website that allows licensees to download free Proposition 65-compliant warning signs. Additionally as part of the Consent Judgment the Defendants will pay civil penalties and the Plaintiffs’ attorney’s fees.
For more information on the Propositon 65 settlement, please visit the Digital Journal link above. Please contact Nexreg for Prop 65 Compliance services.