TOXICS LAWSUIT SETTLED.Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer BURBANK - After a six-year legal battle, Lockheed Martin For the former company, see . Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a leading multinational aerospace manufacturer and advanced technology company formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. Corp. plans to settle a lawsuit filed by Burbank residents who claimed that environmental contamination at the old Skunk skunk, name for several related New World mammals of the weasel family, characterized by their conspicuous black and white markings and use of a strong, highly offensive odor for defense. Works plant caused health problems and property damage, officials said Thursday. Lockheed spokeswoman Gail Rymer said the prospect of a protracted pro·tract tr.v. pro·tract·ed, pro·tract·ing, pro·tracts 1. To draw out or lengthen in time; prolong: disputants who needlessly protracted the negotiations. 2. trial prompted the settlement, the terms of which are expected to be finalized within two weeks. The plaintiffs' attorney, Frank Pitre, did not return phone calls. The trial was put on hold earlier this month when U.S. District Judge Mariana Pfaelzer Mariana Pfaelzer is a U.S. District Court Judge in the Ninth Circuit. She is probably best remembered for her role in striking down California's Proposition 187, which would have denied services to illegal aliens. broke her hip. The two sides faced the possibility of a mistrial A courtroom trial that has been terminated prior to its normal conclusion. A mistrial has no legal effect and is considered an invalid or nugatory trial. It differs from a "new trial," which recognizes that a trial was completed but was set aside so that the issues could be - with the case starting over from the beginning. The chief district judge advised both sides to try to reach a settlement instead. ``When you weigh all the risks and also look at it economically, it's the way to go,'' said Rymer. ``It's a good business decision for us.'' According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Rymer, the settlement would cover not only the four plaintiffs who were in trial, but also 35 claims that were previously dismissed with appeal rights. These claims are among the last to be resolved from more than 3,000 filed by Burbank residents. The plaintiffs' lawsuit claims allege that Lockheed improperly disposed of toxic chemicals between the late 1930s and 1980s, resulting in contamination of local groundwater. The contamination, they claimed, caused their various illnesses, including breast cancer, leukemia and non- Hodgkin's lymphoma. |
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