Fighting Back for Consumer Protection

For decades, paint companies used highly-toxic lead in their products. The California Supreme Court found that these companies perpetrated a public nuisance by knowingly marketing their poisonous product and poisoning thousands of children. Ten jurisdictions spent 20 years seeking compensation from these companies to clean up residences which continue to expose children to lead paint poisoning.

In response, the lead paint industry launched a ballot initiative to overturn the court ruling and absolve themselves of responsibility. Rather than creating a campaign against the initiative, TrattenPrice devised a strategy to keep the measure from ever reaching the ballot box.

TrattenPrice organized a campaign with California’s public health advocates, public entities, and consumer attorneys to fight back with a legislative program that would not only confirm the Supreme Court’s ruling - but also expand the lead paint companies’ liability. This campaign highlighted the industries’ poisonous history and educated legislators about why the industry must be held accountable.

Alongside a top-notch public relations firm, TrattenPrice organized press events and boycotts of the companies’ products - and, along with the momentum from a diverse coalition, the message was heard.

The paint companies withdrew their initiative and the court case remained intact, ensuring that thousands of family homes across the state would be made safe.