ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis resident is suing a natural resource company and other area companies, citing alleged failure to warn and protect minor children from the harmful effects toxic substances coming from a metallurgical complex in Peru.
Father Chris Collins as next friend of minor individuals, filed a complaint June 5 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against Doe Run Resources Corp., D.R. Acquisition Corp., Marvin K. Kaiser, et al., alleging that the defendants created toxic environmental releases that have negatively and dramatically affected the air quality in La Oroya, Peru.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that since Oct. 24, 1997, when the defendants purchased the La Oroya Complex, minor plaintiffs have been exposed to and harmed by the dangerous and toxic substances released from the complex. Over a series of studies by public health experts, 99 percent of children in La Oroya had lead levels in their blood greater than 10 micrograms/deciliter.
The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible because they allegedly failed to control and contain the metals and other toxic substances used and generated by the complex and purposefully withheld information or deliberately deceived minor plaintiffs and their parents and guardians with regard to the dangers of exposure toxic materials.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment for damages in an amount in excess of $25,000, with punitive damages, costs, expenses, pre- and post-judgment interest, and for such further relief as the court deems appropriate. They are represented by Wilson D. Sikes and Paul J. Napoli of Napoli Shkolnick PLLC in Edwardsville, Illinois, and D. Todd Matthews of Gori, Julian & Assoc. PC in Edwardsville.