Judge: Lead Paint Companies Can’t Be Reimbursed for Court Fees
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
A Superior Court judge has ruled that three lead-paint companies that ultimately prevailed in a state lawsuit against them could not be reimbursed by the state for some of their legal expenses, according to the Attorney General.
Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein said the state didn’t owe the companies any money because it had “pursued this litigation in good faith” and the reimbursement would be an “unnecessary penalty.”
In a statement, Attorney General Patrick Lynch praised the decision. “Judge Silverstein has made the right decision and a courageous one and I thank him for it,” Lynch said.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn 2006, a jury ruled that The Sherwin Williams Co., NL Industries Inc. and Millennium Holdings LLC had to spend up to $2.4 billion cleaning up homes in the state and paying out damages. But the state Supreme Court tossed out the verdict in 2008.
“I am very proud of this office’s role in pursuing justice in this case for so many years,” Lynch said. “Of course, I wish our state Supreme Court saw this case our way, but its unfavorable verdict takes nothing away from the efforts of many, including this office, to fight for the children of our state, hundreds of whom continue to be unnecessarily poisoned by lead every year.”
