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| Fri, Nov. 21, 2008 |  |
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| | Wrongful death ruling upheld by court
Thursday, Oct 7, 2004 Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld a Washington County jury's decision favoring three paint manufacturers in a product liability lawsuit. The estate of Randall Roach, who worked as an auto body repairman for more 20 years, sued the manufacturers after he died of acute myelogenous leukemia in 2001. The lawsuit argued the leukemia was caused by his exposure to paints, thinners and solvents containing trace amounts of the carcinogenic chemical benzene. Roach's estate asked for more than $14 million in damages. The jury concluded in December 2002 that PPG Industries Inc., Sherwin Williams Co. and E.I. duPont de Nemours and Co., were not at fault. Testimony during the trial revealed that the amount of benzene in the fumes Roach breathed was very small and that the characteristics of his disease were not consistent with the known features of benzene-induced leukemia. Judge Robert J. Gladwin wrote the unanimous decision. Siding with Gladwin were Judges John Mauzy Pittman and Olly Neal. |
