Sherwin-Williams Can’t Shake Lead Paint Claims in Wisconsin

Sherwin-Williams failed to shake off decades-old lead paint injury claims, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin ruled.

Claims may proceed against Sherwin-Williams, American Cyanamid, and Armstrong Containers alleging children were exposed to lead paint in their homes, the court said.

The claims rely on Wisconsin’s risk contribution theory of liability which requires a plaintiff to prove only that defendants “contributed to the risk of injury to the public, and, consequently ... to the individual plaintiffs,” the court said.

Risk contribution theory allows a case to proceed if the plaintiff shows the defendant produced or marketed the ...