Court Refuses Class-Action Suit
The California Supreme Court on Monday blocked a class-action lawsuit on behalf of 800 Redlands residents who say they were exposed to toxic chemicals in their drinking water.
Residents of the city 70 miles east of Los Angeles have sued Lockheed Martin Corp., alleging that drinking water laced with a rocket fuel ingredient has caused cancers and other illnesses. The plaintiffs want Lockheed to pay for health monitoring.
The justices, ruling 5 to 2, said the cases cannot be consolidated as a class action. The court said residents may sue individually.
The court did not address the merits of the accusations. Lockheed denies them. California has ordered Lockheed to clean up the contamination.
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