Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is representing those who have become seriously ill due to exposure to ethylene oxide at or near Sterigenics medical sterilization facilities, helping them recover financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, wrongful death and more.
Lawsuits allege and have alleged that ethylene oxide emissions at Sterigenics plants which sterilize medical equipment have caused serious illnesses, including:
- Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Stomach cancer
- Breast cancer
- Aplastic anemia
In addition, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, ethylene oxide exposure has been determined to cause lymphoid cancer as well as tumors of the mammary gland, uterus, connective tissue, lung and brain in animals.
Sterigenics has been ordered by a jury to pay $363 million to resident who developed cancer after being exposed to ethylene oxide (EtO). The company has also agreed to a settlement over Cobb County, Georgia lawsuits in which it will pay $35 million, and Sterigenics’ parent company said a $408 million agreement was reached to settle lawsuits involving the company’s plant in Illinois.
Our law firm has been representing victims of exposure to toxic substances which pose a cancer risk such as asbestos since 1990, having recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of clients. Our experience in handling cases involving substances which pose health risks will allow us to recover the most compensation possible for you.
If you cannot afford treatment for your illness which was caused by the cancer causing chemical EtO, we can get you to doctors who will treat you without charging you for treatment until your case is over. Doctors do this for our clients since they know our clients get great results from us.
Sterigenics should have but failed to warn the public about the cancer risks associated with EtO emissions, and we will help you hold them accountable on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t be charged any fee until and unless we recover financial compensation for you. The only fee you’ll owe us is a percentage of any compensation we recover in your Sterigenics case – you won’t owe any upfront fee or out-of-pocket fee.
Call us today for a free consultation, text us from this webpage or fill out this webpage’s free case evaluation form if you or a loved one became seriously ill after being exposed to EtO emissions at or near a Sterigenics plant.
What Is Ethylene Oxide?
Ethylene oxide is a disinfectant which is used widely in the medical equipment industry and hospitals as a replacement for steam in sterilizing heat-sensitive equipment and tools like syringes.
EtO is one of the most heavily used methods of sterilization in the healthcare industry since it doesn’t damage delicate medical devices and instruments that need to be sterilized, and since it is compatible with a wide range of materials. It is used to sterilize instruments which can’t tolerate abrasive chemicals, moisture or heat, like plastics, rubber, paper, optical equipment and electronics.
However, EtO is considered to be a group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which means it is considered a proven carcinogen.
EtO is also considered toxic when inhaled, with the United States OSHA limit of permissible exposure set at one part per million over eight hours.
Compensation Available in a Sterigenics Lawsuit
If you have become ill after being exposed to EtO which was emitted from Sterigenics’ commercial sterilization facilities, our law firm can help you recover financial compensation for:
Medical Bills
If you have developed health problems due to EtO, you may already owe money in the form of medical expenses, and you may incur future medical expenses related to treatment you’ll need in the future. Our firm can help you recover compensation for all past and future medical bills related to your illness.
Lost Wages
Your illness may have caused you to be too sick to work for a period of time. You may have also had to take time off from work to have your illness treated. We can help you recover financial compensation for any wages you aren’t able to earn due to your illness.
Loss of Earning Capacity
Your illness may have caused you to be disabled, and this disability may represent a loss or reduction of your earning capacity. Our firm can help you obtain a recovery to compensate you for any reduction or loss of your earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering
You may have experienced physical pain and mental suffering due to your illness, and you may suffer pain and suffering in the future because of it as well. Our lawyers can accurately valuate your pain and suffering and make sure you’re fairly compensated for it.
Wrongful Death
If you lost a loved one due to a condition caused by exposure to EtO, unfortunately, financial compensation won’t be able to bring back your loved one. However, it can help make sure your family doesn’t have to go through financial hardship because of the loss of your loved one.
We can help you recover compensation for:
- The grieving and suffering that you have gone through because you lost your loved one
- The pain and suffering your loved one went through prior to their death
- Your loved one’s medical bills, burial costs and funeral costs
- Losing your loved one’s love, companionship, consortium, income and household services
Punitive Damages
Sterigenics has known for a long time that its plants were emitting carcinogenic EtO but failed to warn people about it. We will seek punitive damages on your behalf to punish Sterigenics for this conduct, maximize your financial recovery and deter other companies from behaving similarly in the future.
Where Are Sterigenics Plants and Potential Ethylene Oxide Emissions Located?
Sterigenics plants which are licensed to provide ethylene oxide sterilization services are located in:
- Los Angeles, CA
- Ontario, CA
- Atlanta, GA
- Charlotte, NC
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Santa Teresa, NM
- Queensbury, NY
- Grand Prairie, TX
These locations have ended up facing criticism from advocates and experts, and some of these locations have faced litigation and regulatory action:
Los Angeles (Vernon), CA: The Los Angeles County Supervisor, in August 2022, as well as other officials ended up calling for the shutdown of an EtO sterilization plant in Vernon after the South Coast Air Quality Management District labeled the facility “high risk” regarding its emissions of EtO.
Santa Teresa, NM: The Attorney General of New Mexico, in January 2021, filed a lawsuit against Sterigenics regarding claims that emissions of EtO from its facility in Santa Teresa increased local residents’ risk of cancer.
Ontario, CA: The South Coast Air Quality Management District, in 2022, issued violations to the company for the discharge of air contaminants in harmful quantities, as well as for a failure to maintain equipment, a failure to report equipment breakdowns in a timely manner, and the submission of breakdown reports which were incomplete.
Atlanta, GA: The Atlanta facility was temporarily closed, as reported by the FDA in September 2019, in order to reduce emissions of EtO. Property damage claims and cancer lawsuits have been filed against the company regarding exposure to EtO from its Atlanta facility.
Nationwide: The EPA, in December 2021, expanded reporting requirements to 29 EtO sterilization facilities, including every Sterigenics location, which weren’t reporting regarding releases of EtO.
Legal Challenges Regarding Claims of Toxic Exposure
If you’ve been exposed to a toxic substance like EtO and wish to file a personal injury claim, your case may be particularly difficult and complex to navigate due to numerous legal challenges.
Toxic exposure claims have unique characteristics which often necessitate nuanced understanding of science and law.
Legal challenges involved in these cases include:
Proving Liability and Causation
The biggest hurdles in toxic exposure cases are proving liability and causation – meaning that contact with a toxic substance directly led to a plaintiff’s illness, and meaning it’s a specific party’s fault. This necessitates clearly establishing a link between the health effects and the contact, and this can be challenging since exposure symptoms can take a long time to manifest, which complicates the timeline. In addition, people are sometimes exposed to numerous substances, making it difficult to pinpoint which substances harmed them.
Toxic exposure cases can also involve numerous defendants, including manufacturers, property owners, employers and others. In order to identify the proper defendants and prove liability, one must:
- Trace the source of the toxic substance, which may be difficult when chemicals are widely used or when the environment is polluted
- Demonstrating a defendant knew or should have known a hazard existed yet failed to prevent exposure
Time Limits
A challenge in these cases is the statute of limitations. Some jurisdictions require claims to be filed before a time limit representing a certain period of time after the injury happens or after the plaintiff becomes aware of the injury. Since many illnesses caused by toxins have a latent nature, this means the statute can expire before a disease is ever diagnosed. However, in some jurisdictions the statute only begins to run once a plaintiff becomes aware a specific substance caused their illness.
If you’re wondering if you’re eligible to file a lawsuit against Sterigenics, call us today for a free consultation. We are intimately familiar with all statute of limitations laws and can let you know if you still have time to file a claim.
Powerful Defendants
Claims regarding toxic exposure can be brought against large entities or corporations who have significant financial and legal resources to battle you with. This can lead to litigation being very intimidating for you.
Because of this, if you’re looking to file a personal injury lawsuit against Sterigenics, you may benefit from working with lawyers who have experience handling toxic exposure cases. These attorneys can help you navigate the complexities of the legal process, build a convincing case, and effectively advocate on your behalf.
Seeking Help From a Sterigenics Lawyer
Given that these cases can be very complex, it is crucial for you to secure competent legal representation. A skilled lawyer with experience in environmental law and personal injury can provide you with valuable guidance as you navigate the legal process.
Important steps include:
Free case evaluation: This is an initial consultation which will assess your case’s viability, considering the exposure’s specifics and the health issues related to the exposure.
Investigation: This involves collecting evidence in order to support your claim, such as expert analyses, environmental reports and medical records.
Settlement or litigation: This involves navigation of legal proceedings, whether this involves settlement with responsible parties or pursuing a case in court.
A skilled lawyer won’t just advocate for your legal rights, but, in addition, provide guidance and support you need to navigate the financial and emotional challenges posed by your illness.
Legal Representation for EtO Exposure Victims
Exposure to EtO presents significant risks to your well-being and health, and the legal landscape which surrounds EtO cases can be very complex. It’s essential for you to understand your rights as well as personal injury law’s intricacies.
At Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers, we’re dedicated to helping victims of exposure to EtO navigate legal challenges effectively, fight to recover compensation and justice they deserve.
Call us today for a free case evaluation to talk about your case and learn about how we can help you recover the justice and compensation you deserve.
