DuPont Ordered to Pay $1.25 Million to Victims of Toxic Spill

A federal jury has ordered DuPont Performance Coatings to pay more than $1.25 million to six people who suffered injuries after a sulfuric acid spill at an eastern Kentucky plant.

The toxic leak occurred on October 11, 2004, after a cracked pipe caused sulfuric trioxide to leak.  Sulfuric trioxide forms white clouds containing tiny droplets of sulfuric acid to be released into the air.  As a result, the victims, all of whom lived near the plant, suffered skin burns, eye irritations, and respiratory and eye problems.

DuPont fought the claims, arguing that it gave adequate warnings addressing the leak to residents living near the plant.

The jury ultimately found DuPont liable and awarded the victims $130,000 in compensatory damages for past and future medical bills, and ten times that amount as a punitive award.

As a result of the lawsuit, another 173 people have sued DuPont for damages as well.

DuPont can appeal the jury verdict, but it will have to wait until all of the plaintiff's cases have been resolved.

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