- Settlement Date: July 10, 2019
County Counsel finalized a global settlement of a lengthy public nuisance lawsuit by the County and nine other public entities against manufacturers of lead paint. The County received $133 million under the settlement to cleanup lead paint hazards at homes built before 1978. Under the settlement, defendants The Sherwin-Williams Company, ConAgra Grocery Products Company, and NL Industries, Inc., are required to pay a total of $305 million to the Counties of Santa Clara, Alameda, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Mateo, Solano, and Ventura; the City and County of San Francisco; and the Cities of Oakland and San Diego to address lead paint-related hazards, which are one of the most significant environmental hazards for children in California and around the country.
The settlement came after years of litigation that included a trial verdict in favor of the County and other public entities, which was affirmed on appeal.
The Department of Public Health and the Los Angeles County Development Authority are using funds from the settlement to implement a robust lead paint hazard abatement plan to remove lead paint from hundreds of homes in the County.
Image from LA County DPH website:
http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/lead/index.htm
*Although the defendants settled this lawsuit, they did not admit liability; nor did they admit the allegations of the County’s complaint.