Three paint manufacturers must pay more than $1.1 billion to abate lead-containing interior paint in millions of older California homes to resolve suits brought by 10 California counties and cities, a state trial court said in a tentative order (California v. Atlantic Richfield Co., Cal. Super. Ct., No. CV-788657).
The counties and municipalities proved lead pigment and paint makers knowingly sold a hazardous product that created a public health crisis and a public nuisance requiring extensive and costly abatement, the California Superior Court for Santa Clara County held Dec. 16.
The court found that defendants ConAgra Grocery Products ...