Raytheon Wins Verdict in Florida Property Contamination Lawsuit

Raytheon Technologies Corp. was exonerated by a Florida federal court jury in a long-running suit by Florida property owners who alleged hazardous material from a United Technologies rocket plant contaminated their soil.

Richard and Bethany Cotromano and owners of three other properties alleged Raytheon, which does business as Pratt & Whitney, caused radioactive thoriated nickel to be trucked to their community, and that the material caused a pediatric cancer cluster, creating an environmental stigma that diminished the value of their properties. Thoriated nickel is used in sheet metal with various applications.

The plaintiffs sought damages under a Florida anti-pollution law ...