Illinois
Jury awards Illinois woman $363M in suit over plant’s gas
CHICAGO — A jury has awarded $363 million to a girl who alleged {that a} now-shuttered suburban Chicago plant that sterilized medical tools uncovered residents to a poisonous industrial gasoline and gave her breast most cancers.
After a five-week trial, the Cook dinner County jurors on Monday awarded Sue Kamuda $38 million in compensatory damages for the previous and future lack of a standard life, emotional misery, disfigurement and shortened life expectancy, and $325 million in punitive damages.
Kamuda, 70, developed breast most cancers in 2007 regardless of having no predisposition to it, her legal professionals mentioned. She is the primary of greater than 700 individuals in search of damages from Oak Brook, Illinois-based Sterigenics to go to trial over well being claims over the plant’s releases of ethylene oxide gasoline.
These lawsuits have been filed in opposition to Sterigenics since 2018, when the U.S. Environmental Safety Company printed analysis displaying individuals dwelling close to the plant within the DuPage County village of Willowbrook confronted a number of the nation’s highest most cancers dangers from poisonous air air pollution.
Sterigenics, the previous plant’s most up-to-date proprietor, was ordered to pay Kamuda $220 million in punitive damages; mum or dad firm Sotera Well being was directed to pay $100 million and Griffith Meals, the present identify of the plant’s authentic proprietor, $5 million.
Monday’s verdict exceeded the $346 million Kamuda’s legal professionals sought in closing arguments final Thursday in opposition to Sterigenics.
“It was such a reduction,” Kamuda mentioned of the decision. The retired faculty administrator advised reporters considered one of her sons has been identified with most cancers and has filed his personal lawsuit in opposition to the corporate.
Attorneys for the businesses argued that Kamuda’s attorneys provided no proof that her breast most cancers was brought on by publicity to ethylene oxide, an odorless gasoline pumped into fumigation chambers contained in the sterilization plant after which launched into surrounding neighborhoods.
The businesses additionally introduced in industry-connected scientists who tried to steer jurors the plant by no means posed a hazard to its neighbors, the Chicago Solar-Occasions reported.
Emails and paperwork offered through the trial confirmed the businesses knew way back that ethylene oxide is extraordinarily harmful, however delayed putting in pollution-control tools. The paperwork additionally confirmed the businesses tried to undermine federal laws that will require expensive enhancements at sterilization services, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The plant had been releasing ethylene oxide from 1985 till it was briefly shut down by the state in 2019 after authorities detected the gasoline close by. Amid public strain, Sterigenics closed the plant completely later that yr.
Patrick Salvi Jr., considered one of Kamuda’s attorneys, mentioned Monday’s verdict doubtless will have an effect on rulings in different lawsuits.
“We predict this must set the tone. There’s quite a lot of victims on the market,” he mentioned.
Sterigenics and Sotera mentioned in a press release they may enchantment the decision, saying it doesn’t mirror the proof offered in court docket.
“We are going to proceed to vigorously defend in opposition to allegations about our ethylene oxide operations and emissions,” the businesses mentioned.
“As we’ve persistently completed all through our historical past, we are going to proceed to function in compliance with relevant guidelines and laws to make sure the security of our workers, the communities during which we function and sufferers all over the world.”
Griffith Meals, an Alsip, Illinois firm, mentioned the lawsuit was a “case of overreach” by the plaintiff’s legal professionals. The corporate mentioned it hasn’t been related to Sterigenics in over 20 years.
PEORIA (25News Now) – The Illinois Motor Fuel tax, known as the gas tax, will rise again on July 1 meaning higher per-gallon gas prices.
The tax rate increases by 3%. Taxes for gasoline will be 47 cents-per-gallon and 54 cents-per-gallon for diesel.
The increase is part of the Rebuild Illinois capital plan. In 2019, lawmakers voted to double the gas tax from 19 cents-per-gallon to 38 cents-per-gallon.
The plan was to increase the rate each year based on inflation.
Before 2019, did not have a gas tax increase for nearly 30 years. The tax revenue collected helped fund roads and transportation projects.
Some residents we spoke with said they understand the tax increase. Others said that more roads need to be redone.
State Rep. Travis Weaver (R-Edwards) agreed roads need work, but he said the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) needs to use the more than $3 billion sitting in the road fund.
“Obviously, they take in revenue and spend money, but the balance has grown by six times as much,” Weaver said. “I would say to IDOT: ‘You have two choices. You either start spending that money, putting it to work to get roads fixed, or we’re going to cut the gas tax.’”
In a statement to 25 News, Democratic Sen. Dave Koehler said:
“Recently, it was announced that the Peoria and Bloomington-Normal communities will receive over $193 million in funding for state and local highways through the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Multi-Year Plan. These funds play a large role in supporting this program that ensures our roads and bridges are safe and well maintained.”
Another issue is for electric vehicle owners who do not pay gas taxes.
Starting July 1, EV owners will be charged a $100 yearly fee to make up for lost tax revenue, on top of the annual registration fee.
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Illinois faces summer blood donation shortage
Versiti Blood Center of Illinois is in desperate need of blood donations as their supply continues to decrease during the summer.
CHICAGO – Illinois blood centers are in desperate need of donations as their supply dwindles during the summer months.
Versiti Blood Center of Illinois issued an emergency appeal on Monday in response to the decreasing state-wide blood supply.
Almost 5,000 blood donation appointments at the center were canceled or missed in June.
“We know summer is a challenging time for blood donation, and we plan for it every year, but what we see today is dire,” Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical director at Versiti said. “Patients’ lives are at risk. If you are healthy and able, we are pleading with you to donate blood this week.”
Some blood types only have a day’s supply of blood left, which puts local patients in need of blood at risk.
The center needs all blood types, with O-positive and O-negative blood types being in higher demand.
Versiti welcomes walk-in donors. Anyone ages 18 or older who is in good health is encouraged to donate blood. Children ages 16 and 17 can donate with a parent’s permission.
Versiti blood donation centers are accepting donations at the following locations:
WESTMONT: 6317 S. Fairview Avenue
TINLEY PARK: 16100 Centennial Circle
BLOOMINGDALE: 398 W. Army Trail Road
NAPERVILLE: 1297 S. Naper Boulevard
WINFIELD: 27W281 Geneva Road
JOLIET: 2625 W. Jefferson Street
GENEVA: 2000 W. State Street, Unit 1E
AURORA: 1200 N. Highland Avenue
ELGIN: 1140 N. McLean Boulevard
CRYSTAL LAKE: 6296 Northwest Highway
YORKVILLE: 728 E. Veterans Parkway, Suite 112
DEKALB: 2428 Sycamore Road
HIGHLAND: 2126 45th Street
To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 800-786-4483 or visit versiti.org.
Patient Care at Risk, Versiti Blood Center of Illinois Issues Plea for Donors
CHICAGO, June 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Versiti Blood Center of Illinois has issued an emergency appeal for blood donations due to a dangerously low blood supply. Certain blood types have less than a day’s worth of availability, endangering the lives of local patients. Summer donations have plummeted to critical levels, with over 4,963 appointments missed in the past month alone.
All blood types are needed, with O-positive and O-negative being the most in demand. O-positive is the most common blood type, while O-negative blood is the universal type that can be safely received by all patients in emergencies when the blood type is unknown.
“We know summer is a challenging time for blood donation, and we plan for it every year, but what we see today is dire,” said Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical director at Versiti. “Patients’ lives are at risk. If you are healthy and able, we are pleading with you to donate blood this week.”
In addition to unfilled appointments and a rise in cancellations and no-shows, Versiti’s partner hospitals have required a significant volume of blood this past month to support organ transplant procedures and other traumas.
“The demand for blood simply does not match the number of donors coming through our doors,” added Waxman. “While we deeply appreciate our loyal donors who consistently show up, it’s important to recognize that about 3 percent of people who are eligible to donate blood actually do. If it’s been a while since your last donation or you’re a first-time donor, we are excited to welcome you.”
What happens if blood is not available for patients?
- When the local blood inventory gets as low as it is now, it jeopardizes the health and safety of patients who rely on life-saving blood transfusions. In some cases, hospitals are forced to postpone surgeries or delay critical treatments.
- Trauma victims from car accidents or shootings are at the highest risk, as their survival often depends on a healthy blood inventory. If these types of cases occur in the coming days, we might not have the blood needed to keep them alive.
- Patients undergoing organ transplants and battling cancer, and even mothers in labor, could face treatment delays or complications due to a limited blood supply.
To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call (800) 786-4483 or visit versiti.org. Walk-in donors are also welcome.
Donor center locations:
- WESTMONT: 6317 S. Fairview Ave.
- TINLEY PARK: 16100 Centennial Cir.
- BLOOMINGDALE: 398 W. Army Trail Rd.
- NAPERVILLE: 1297 S. Naper Blvd.
- WINFIELD: 27W281 Geneva Rd.
- JOLIET: 2625 W. Jefferson St.
- GENEVA: 2000 W. State St., Unit 1E
- AURORA: 1200 N. Highland Ave.
- ELGIN: 1140 N. McLean Blvd.
- CRYSTAL LAKE: 6296 Northwest Hwy.
- YORKVILLE: 728 E. Veterans Pkwy., Suite 112
- DEKALB: 2428 Sycamore Rd.
- HIGHLAND: 2126 45th St.
Donating blood takes about an hour. Anyone aged 16 or older who is in good health and meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors aged 16 to donate blood. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.
About Versiti Blood Center of Illinois
Versiti Blood Center of Illinois is a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Aurora, IL. that specializes in blood products and services and provides expert medical and technical support. Founded in 1943, it is the oldest blood center in Illinois and serves patients at more than 85 hospitals in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. It operates 12 donor centers and conducts nearly 2,200 blood drives annually at area hospitals, churches, businesses, schools and community centers. To learn more, visit versiti.org.
SOURCE Versiti Blood Center of Illinois
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