ROCKETDYNE TRIAL CAN PROCEED, MAY IMPACT OTHER SUITS.Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer The U.S. 9th District Court of Appeals has upheld its decision to allow residents to go to trial on claims that a Rocketdyne test lab caused their cancer and other illnesses, attorneys announced Monday. The court denied a petition by the Boeing Co., parent of Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power, to rehear re·hear tr.v. re·heard , re·hear·ing, re·hears 1. To hear again. 2. Law To give a new hearing to (a case) by the same court. Verb 1. its contention that the statute of limitations A type of federal or state law that restricts the time within which legal proceedings may be brought. Statutes of limitations, which date back to early Roman Law, are a fundamental part of European and U.S. law. had run out on residents' claims. The decision June 10 allows 18 Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. and San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. residents to press their case against Rocketdyne that its Santa Susana Field Laboratory caused illnesses among residents living next to its nuclear and rocket test site. Attorneys say the decision also bolsters 10 similar lawsuits against Rocketdyne involving about 300 residents with personal injury, wrongful-death and estate claims. ``Now that the Court of Appeals has resolved the statute of limitations issues, we expect that a significant number of additional cases will now qualify for prosecution,'' said A. Barry Cappello of Cappello & McCann in Santa Barbara, who represents the plaintiffs. In November, the 9th Circuit Court overturned a lower court's findings that the plaintiffs failed to file their cases within the statute Encompassed by, or included under, the provisions and scope of a particular law. In the U.S. legal system, a person who is charged with violating a statute must have committed actions that are specifically addressed in the law. of limitations and should have sued after earlier news accounts publicized Rocketdyne's release of potentially toxic substances. The Boeing Co., which has a policy not to discuss pending litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. , has always maintained that the lawsuits lack merit. Said company spokesman Dan Beck: ``The plaintiffs have provided no scientific evidence to support their claims.'' Dana Bartholomew, (818) 713-3730 dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion