A medical sterilization company that used to have a facility in suburban Chicago has agreed to settle nearly 1,000 lawsuits accusing it of putting carcinogens into the air and sickening plaintiffs. Sterigenics’ parent company has reached settlement agreements that will pay plaintiffs a total of $443 million, if they approve.
Sterigenics had a facility in Willowbrook until it closed in 2019. Before then, according to the litigation, the company used ethylene oxide in its sterilization process. Ethylene oxide is a known carcinogen that affects the body’s white blood cells. Among the cancers linked to ethylene oxide exposure are:
- Non-Hodgkins lymphoma
- Myeloma
- Lymphocytic leukemia
- Breast cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Stomach cancer
It also causes birth defects, miscarriage, infertility, breathing problems, neurological damage and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.
Besides more than 870 lawsuits filed by cancer patients in Illinois, another 79 sued in Georgia related to Sterigenics’ plant down there.
No admission of liability, but money for victims
As is standard with mass tort settlements, Sterigenics and its parent company admit no liability. The company continues to insist that its Willowbrook plant “did not pose a safety risk to the community.” However, each claimant will receive compensation based on the details of their particular case — if a majority of plaintiffs agree to the settlement.
If you or a loved one developed cancer or other health problems as a result of Sterigenics’ actions, you might have a limited time to take legal action. You and your family should not have to bear the financial burden of a company’s decision to poison the atmosphere. The attorneys at Dunn Harrington Trial Lawyers have filed multiple lawsuits on behalf of Sterigenics cancer victims. Contact them today at 872-282-4603 or online to see if you have a case.