B. Braun cancer claims lawsuit over Lehigh Valley plant denied class action status
A Lehigh County judge denied class action status to a lawsuit against B. Braun, seeking medical monitoring for residents near their plant due to ethylene oxide emissions.Summary
A lawsuit aiming to compel B. Braun to fund medical monitoring for thousands potentially affected by cancer risks from their Lehigh Valley plant was denied class action status by a Lehigh County judge. Plaintiff Mourad Abdelaziz and his legal team argued that residents near the plant faced increased cancer risk due to ethylene oxide emissions, with the EPA reporting emissions between 1,900 and 7,600 pounds annually from 2008-2018. While B. Braun has since reduced emissions by 90%, the lawsuit sought screenings for those living near the facility, even without a cancer diagnosis. The judge, Michele Varricchio, sided with B. Braun, finding the plaintiff failed to meet requirements for class action status, citing issues with the plaintiff’s credibility, inaccurate statements, and insufficient definition of the eligible class. B. Braun had previously settled individual lawsuits from those diagnosed with cancer linked to their emissions, but this proposed class action sought to cover a much broader group of residents. The case remains active, but will proceed without class action certification.
(Source：Mcall)