Dennis Raglin

Proposition 65 & Chemical-Related Matters

• Over twenty-five years’ experience with California's Proposition 65 representing and counseling diverse collection of clients across the US and internationally.

• Achieved defense verdict finding no Prop 65 warning for lead is required on defendant rice manufacturer’s products. Consumer Advocacy Grp. Inc. v. Gulf Pacific Rice Co., Inc., Cal. Super. Ct., Los Angeles, No. BC553427 (2024). 

• Retained as consultant in a Proposition 65 case involving lead in turmeric where defendant achieved a defense verdict.

• Part of team achieving 2023 victory where appeals court affirmed federal law preempts Proposition 65 warnings on over-the-counter generic medications – Center for Environmental Health v. Perrigo Co., et al. 89 Cal.App.5th 1
• Represent international food conglomerate in Proposition 65 case involving arsenic and lead in 11 spice products, a case with significant importance to spice manufacturers worldwide. 
• Negotiated with state Attorney General favorable judgment resolving years-long Proposition 65 claim involving presence of lead in manufacturer's baby and toddler formulas.
• Negotiated favorable settlement on behalf of international online marketplace regarding Proposition 65 compliance for consumer products sold on its site by merchants.
• Secured dismissal of Proposition 65 case alleging violation by national manufacturer and retailers regarding levels of cadmium in over-the-counter antacids.
• Secured dismissal involving the chemicals lead and DEHP exposure in various consumer products after developing dispositive expert and testing showing chemicals were present in levels below the amount triggering warnings.
• Convinced private enforcer to abandon case against national food manufacturer involving acrylamide in children's food based on federal preemption.
• Represent international supplement maker in claim of excessive heavy metals in health food products.
• Consultant for defendant spice company that won a 2024 Prop 65 trial involving lead in turmeric. Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc. v. Ross Dress for Less, Inc., Case No. 19STCV38610.
• Served as litigation consultant to defense trial team that achieved defense verdict finding no Prop 65 warning for lead is required on defendant spice manufacturer's turmeric. Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc. v. Badia Spices, Inc., Super. Ct., Los Angeles, No. 19STCV38610 (2024). 
• Secured dismissal of Prop 65 case during trial. Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc. v. Gel Spice Co., Inc., Cal. Super. Ct., Los Angeles, No. BC665798  (2024)

Compliance Counseling

• Counsel one of world's top rice manufacturers in Proposition 65 compliance.
• Counsel tool company trade association on best practices for supply chain and vendor certification to ensure members' compliance with Proposition 65 and state and federal chemical reporting regulations.
• Advising ceramic and glass trade group on federal and state chemical regulations impacting industry.
• Provide advice to multiple food manufacturers on latest California law and provide assessment and recommendations on changes in supply chain and vendor agreements to enhance protections against claims.
• Reviewed and advised online marketplace on establishing compliance program addressing California chemical law and Proposition 65, including assisting with educating merchants and revision of its merchant agreement.

Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Products Liability

• Serve as California counsel for national medical device manufacturer and have defended several types of products from power wheelchairs to hospital beds to oxygen machines.
• Currently representing medical device manufacturer in case involving injury to paraplegic from using wheelchair.
• Secured defense verdict involving client's cautery device used in child's failed tonsillectomy.
• Achieved dismissal of wrongful death case involving use of client's oxygen concentrator.
• Achieved summary judgment in case involving wrongful death of woman falling from transfer sling.
• Argued and won multiple summary judgments involving medical device client’s metallic implants.
• Part of trial team representing international medical device company regarding claims of failure to warn and injury from its artificial hips.
• Part of team representing pharmaceutical company in Multi District Litigations involving thousands of plaintiffs involving multiple prescription medications.

• Speaker, 2024 Steptoe LLP’s EU Chemicals and Sustainability Conference, Brussels

• Presenter, "The Beech-Nut Case Lives On," 2024 Proposition 65 Conference, September 23, 2024
• Presenter, "Proposition 65 and Consumer Class Actions," 8^thAnnual Restaurant Legal Summit, October 24, 2024
• "Consumer Chemical Regulation Update," annual meeting of the Society of Glass and Ceramic Decorated Products, April 13, 2024
• "A Guide to West Coast Packaging and Labeling Requirements for Cosmetics Manufacturers: Ensuring Legal & Regulatory Compliance," American Conference Institute’s Legal, Regulatory & Compliance Forum on Cosmetics & Personal Care Products, September 28, 2023

• "Prop 65 and Testing Laboratories," Proposition 65 Clearinghouse Annual Conference, September 18, 2023

• "Recent Prop 65 Appeals Decisions," Proposition 65 Clearinghouse Annual Conference, September 18, 2023

• "California's Proposition 65 – Latest Developments and Best Practices," Food Contact Regulations USA 2023, June 29, 2023

• "CA Proposition 65 and PFAS Update," Society of Glass and Ceramic Decorated Products, April 23, 2023

• Proposition 65 Compliance for Online Marketplace Merchants – Wish.com, March 14, 2022

• California's "Proposition 65" Toxics-Right-to-Know Law, Chemical Law Outside the US, September 23, 2021

• "First Amendment Argument: Has Anything Changed?," Prop. 65 Annual Conference, September 21, 2020

• Associate Editor, American Bar Association's Litigation Journal

• Member, American Bar Association’s Litigation Section

• Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Los Angeles

• Member, LGBTQ+ Lawyers Association of Los Angeles