Ohio Dismisses Lead Paint Suit

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray on Feb. 6 voluntarily dismissed the lead paint lawsuit filed by former Attorney General Marc Dann in April 2007. The suit was pending in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas against ten paint manufacturers and was focused on abatement of lead paint throughout Ohio.

"I understand and strongly agree that exposure to lead paint is a very real problem," said Attorney General Cordray. "But I also know that not every problem can be solved by a lawsuit." According to a press release from his office, after assessing the law, facts, and adverse legal rulings in these types of cases nationally, the Attorney General concluded that those at risk - and Ohio's economy - would be best served by focusing on how public/private partnerships can be enhanced to address any existing problems with lead paint exposure.

Nearly all lawsuits against paint manufacturers have been dismissed because of the difficulty of identifying the culpable parties and because it was legal to use lead in paint before 1978.

Last July, the Rhode Island Supreme Court threw out a multibillion-dollar jury decision against three lead-paint manufacturers. Shortly after the unanimous Rhode Island decision, the city of Columbus dropped its own lawsuit seeking to force nine paint manufacturers to clean up homes contaminated by lead paint.

For more information: contact NPCA's Tom Graves.   

Date Posted: February 17, 2009