When someone purchases a home in Illinois, they are often focused more on the layout of the floor plan or the school district that is assigned to that neighborhood. Most residents are not worried about what pollutants are filling the air that they breathe, nor should they have to be concerned about this.
For one Illinois resident, however, that air that surrounded her home and neighborhood was allegedly being polluted for years by a nearby manufacturing facility. Now, after a cancer diagnosis, she’s demanding changes.
Lawsuit alleges pollution from sterilization facility let to cancer diagnosis
A 67-year-old woman from Willowbrook, Illinois was diagnosed with breast cancer about a year ago, and she claims that there is a direct link between her diagnosis and the ethylene oxide emissions pouring out of the local Sterigenics sterilization facility. The facility is just .3 miles from her house, and it’s been discovered that the ethylene oxide emissions have been polluting the local air since 1984. In the lawsuit, the victim alleges that the emissions are 64 times the limit established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
She is suing the company for:
- Negligence
- Ultrahazardous Activity
- Willful and Wanton Conduct
- Civil Battery
- Public Nuisance
Ethylene oxide is a known carcinogen, so this lawsuit is particularly alarming. The lawsuit claims that no environmental protections were in place to prevent the emissions from seeping out of the facility. The woman who has brought forth the lawsuit is demanding that the facility cease use of this harmful chemical in their productions, or at least take swift action to reduce the emissions down to the acceptable use limit set by the EPA.
What you need to know about product liability
Product liability laws were established to protect those who are injured by defective products. Ultimately, these injuries can result in significant health care expenses as well as long-term impacts on an individual’s quality of life. Product liability can extend beyond the product itself and also cover the manner in which a product is created.
There are no federal liability laws, so individuals who are dealing with a product liability lawsuit will want to work with an experienced local attorney who is familiar with the state laws.
What to do if you have suffered an injury or illness as a result of corporate negligence
You have a right to live in a safe environment and you should have reasonable expectations that the manufacturing plants and facilities in the surrounding region are doing what they need to do to uphold environmental and health standards. If you have been diagnosed with a chronic illness as a result of negligent environmental pollution or have been injured as a result of defective products, then you should enlist the help of a qualified attorney. Our personal injury law firm will advocate for you and will fight to get you the compensation that you deserve. Call to set up your consultation appointment today.
