Delta Workers’ Toxic Lands’ End Uniform Claims Meet Wary Court

A panel of Seventh Circuit judges on Thursday expressed skepticism as to whether Delta Airlines employees can show that allegedly toxic Lands’ End Inc. uniforms contained defects that rose to the level of being unreasonably dangerous.

More than 600 employees alleged the garments leached dyes—a process also called “crocking"—and that chemicals in the fabric caused a variety of health issues including skin irritation, hair loss, headaches, and other problems.

The uniform maker defeated the claims in 2022, when the district court excluded portions of the plaintiffs’ experts’ causation testimony for lack of scientific reliability.

During oral arguments on appeal, Judge ...