Fremont, OH: Whirlpool Corp., is facing an environmental class action lawsuit brought by families who allege they have lost children and loved ones due to exposure to cancer-causing PCBs and other toxins at a now defunct Whirlpool site.
Tim Lagrou of Fremont is among the plaintiffs. His wife, Christina Lagrou, died in 2006 at age 23 from large cell lymphoma, the lawsuit states. The class action alleges her death "was caused by defendants' intentional, reckless, or negligent handling and disposal of toxic and hazardous chemicals, including PCBs."
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of all who died resulting from exposure to cancer-causing toxins in a northwest Ohio cancer-cluster region, is seeking punitive damages for plaintiffs and other class members of $750 million and compensatory damages of more than $25,000 each. Additionally, plaintiffs are seeking the creation of a medical monitoring fund and a cleanup fund.
Represented by law firm of Albrechta and Coble, the plaintiffs allege a link between an increase in area children' cancer cases and the former Whirlpool Park, at County Roads 187 and 181 and previously owned by Whirlpool and used by area residents. According to a report by the ToledeoBlade, in November, 2012, the US Environmental Protection Agency released a report indicating the presence of cancer-causing polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, at the park.
The property is now owned by Grist Mill Creek, LLC, which also is listed as a defendant. The suit alleges Grist Mill Creek "failed to decontaminate"the property containing "a toxic chemical dump site."
The suit also states Whirlpool "knew or should have known"that dumping or allowing toxic materials at the park would "injure its neighbors."And "Defendant Whirlpool Corporation had a duty of ordinary care to its neighbors, including the plaintiffs, which it breached by dumping toxic materials at Whirlpool Park without designating or disclosing the site."
The area defined by the lawsuit as the cancer-cluster region includes parts of Erie, Ottawa, and Sandusky counties.
