Dozens of West Virginia residents have filed lawsuits against chemical company DuPont for contaminating drinking water.
Filed in West Virginia federal court Friday, the lawsuits allege that the company discharged the chemical C8 into waters surrounding its Washington Works Plant near Parkersburg.
Kathy Brown, a Charleston lawyer representing the plaintiffs, says the lawsuits stem from a 2005 class-action settlement. That settlement followed a lawsuit claiming that six water systems in Ohio and West Virginia were contaminated by C8. A science panel found links between C8 and six medical ailments including testicular and kidney cancers.
Brown says residents of those water systems with any related medical ailments have until the end of January to file suit under the 2005 settlement’s terms. Brown says “between 500 and 600” more lawsuits are expected.