Industry Lawyers Express Optimism About Ruling in Rhode Island Lead Case
PROVIDENCE, RI — A judge in Rhode Island has rejected a defense request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the state against former producers of lead pigments and lead-based paint. But lawyers for the defendants say the judge has ruled in their favor on several major issues.
In a ruling issued in Providence, RI, Superior Court Judge Michael A. Silverstein said Rhode Island Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse could proceed with his suit against several companies, including The Sherwin-Williams Co. and ICI’s The Glidden Co. But Silverstein also rejected major parts of the Rhode Island suit, and lawyers for the defendants say the decision actually amounts to a victory for the industry in several key aspects.