Bitter Discord Threatens to Shatter Jury in Lockheed Case : Courts: In a note to the judge, a juror asks to be dismissed but later agrees to continue deliberations. Others say they will quit if a verdict isn’t reached today.

A member of a jury deliberating the past 11 weeks in a lawsuit brought by Lockheed workers against a group of chemical companies asked Thursday to be dismissed from the case, saying she could not tolerate the “nonsense” of her fellow jurors without retaliating.

The juror wrote a note to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Melvin B. Grover stating that the unusually long deliberations by the bitterly divided panel were so stressful that “it would be better for me” to withdraw.

After speaking with Grover in his chambers, however, the panelist agreed to continue considering the evidence in the case that began last July.

It was the second time in two days that the jury had sent a note to Grover saying the members were feuding and having trouble arriving at the minimum 9-3 majority for a verdict.

The Lockheed case involves damage claims against chemical firms that supplied solvents, resins and epoxies used by workers to make Stealth fighters and other military aircraft at Lockheed’s Burbank complex in the 1970s and ‘80s.

On Wednesday, three jurors sent Grover notes expressing their frustration with the inability of the panel to agree on a verdict in the civil trial.

“Some jurors want to discuss the evidence to arrive at decisions and others don’t,” one juror wrote.

“Jurors have stated that they will not serve here after Friday, and that the other jurors will have to start over.”

Another note to the judge complained that “time is not being used wisely in this room” and asked that a deadline be set for a decision.

Grover declined that request.

The 14 workers involved in the case alleged they suffered maladies ranging from skin rashes to cancer because chemical suppliers failed to adequately warn them of dangers involved in using the products. They are seeking millions in damages.

A verdict in their favor could trigger settlements with 600 current or former Lockheed workers waiting in the wings.

The defendants, including petrochemical giants Exxon, Shell, Arco and duPont, deny their products caused those illnesses.

They argue they warned Lockheed of the safety precautions that use of the materials required.

Lockheed was dismissed from the case last summer after paying an undisclosed settlement.