Chicago Injury Attorney Blog

Last week, McHenry resident Bret Wilkinson sued a Ringwood manufacturer for Illinois personal injury. In his Illinois brain cancer lawsuit, the 46-year-old accused Rohm and Haas of being responsible for the groundwater and air pollution that caused his inoperable grade 3 astrocytoma brain cancer. Wilkinson is the 30th plaintiff to sue the manufacturer for brain cancer.

Wilkinson grew up on the McHenry portion of the lake just a few blocks from where another brain cancer plaintiff used to live. He has resided close to the lake’s West shore since 1990.

At least 30 former and current McCullom Lake residents have filed Illinois brain cancer lawsuits seeking damages. The former chemical company is accused of dumping cancer-causing chemicals into the area. Some 1,000 people reside in the community. The state of Illinois says the population size is too small for a proper analysis of the area’s cancer rate.

Rohm and Haas bought the chemical plant from Morton International 10 years ago. The latter operated the plant for five decades and is accused of spending 20 years dumping toxic chemical waste into an unlined pit.

Eight of the nine patients diagnosed with astrocytoma brain cancer are deceased.

Rohm and Haas has admitted that chemicals were dumped in the pit, which spanned an eight-acre area. However, the company says it will fight the brain cancer lawsuits. Rohm and Haas claims tests prove that any contamination flowed away from the village. The plaintiffs, however, argue that testing occurred years after the company stopped dumping the chemicals.

30th plaintiff joins lawsuits over cancers, Northwest Herald, October 7, 2009

McCullom Lake Illinois Brain Cancer Lawsuits Filed on Behalf of 30 People, About Lawsuits, October 15, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Rohm and Haas

McCullom Lake, Illinois