DUPONT'S WOES CONTINUE TO MOUNT

(07/20/2005)
A five billion-dollar class-action lawsuit is being filed against DuPont over a chemical (C-Eight) they have used to make Teflon.

Two Florida law firms are filing the lawsuit in federal courts in eight states on behalf of 14 people who used cookware with the nonstick Teflon.

The lawsuit alleges DuPont has known for over 20 years that Teflon and C-Eight can cause cancer in lab animals but lied about it.

The plaintiffs want DuPont to replace the cookware, impose Teflon warning labels and create two funds for medical monitoring and research.

DuPont denies any wrongdoing. Spokesman Clif Webb says the Delaware-based company will vigorously defend itself against the allegations. Webb also insists that products sold under the Teflon brand are safe.

C-Eight is also used in other DuPont products such as firefighting foam, phone cables and clothing.

In February, DuPont agreed to pay $107 million dollars to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by West Virginia and Ohio residents who claimed C-Eight contaminated water supplies near the company's Wood County plant.

Numerous other actions are pending against the company related to the problem.