Federal jury in Kentucky awards $1.25 million in DuPont chemical leak case

Federal jury awards $1.25 million in chemical leak

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A federal jury has ordered DuPont to pay more than $1.25 million to six people who were injured when fuming sulfuric acid spilled from an eastern Kentucky plant five years ago.

The jury found DuPont liable for skin burns, eye irritation and respiratory and eye problems sustained by neighbors of the company’s plant in Wurtland, Ky.

The leak happened Oct. 11, 2004, and stemmed from a cracked pipe at the plant. It resulted in sulfur trioxide, a chemical that formed white clouds composed of tiny droplets of sulfuric acid, being released into the air.

DuPont argued that it gave warnings to neighbors about the leak and was not responsible for any injuries.