Fearing a rebuff in court, lead paint companies are trying to stick taxpayers with their cleanup bill; LA Times
Video below is from the January 18, 2018 LA Times Article linked here. This is a very important article. Watch the video, read the article and share. The comments below are in response to the linked article and video:
Please note: If the California ballot measure FAILS, then Sherwin Williams, ConAgra and NL will be required to pay to clean up the incredibly profitable – and unbelievably neurotoxic – lead paint in 7 California counties and three major California cities for starters. This is lead paint that they manufactured, knowingly dishonestly promoted and which currently covers the windows, doors, interior trim and exteriors of tens of millions of American homes built before the 1978 ban was finally enacted. If the initiative SUCCEEDS, it will be YOU and I and the rest of the VICTIMS of their atrocious behavior that will be forced to continue to pay for their callous greed instead!
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The reason these companies are DESPERATE to get this initiative on the California ballot next November is because of the landmark verdict from 2014 (for which – this past November – they just lost their brazen appeal – the basis of which was the absurd claim that the court “failed to prove that the industry knew that lead was harmful to children”) – only covered 10 California counties!
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In the absence of the proposed ballot initiative, if the fines from the 2014 verdict are upheld (and unfortunately they have already been reduced as part of the appeal process, but are still significant), then the State of California can go after comparable restitution for all of the remaining 48 California counties. Once THAT happens the rest of the states in our fine country can follow suit, with the California case as precedent for the companies that were the primary manufacturers of lead paint historically to clean up the toxic lead that continues to poison our children today. [Just as BP was required to pay for the clean up of the toxic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico a few years back.]
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Prior to their stunning loss in this case – and in their subsequent unsuccessful brazen appeal – THE VERTICALLY INTEGRATED MINING, REFINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANIES THAT COMPRISE THE LEAD INDUSTRY HAVE TO THIS DAY, STILL NEVER BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR POISONING GENERATIONS OF AMERICAN CHILDREN ACROSS THE COUNTRY – WHICH IS WHY THEY HAVE BEEN REGARDED FOR A CENTURY IN LEGAL CIRCLES AS “UNTOUCHABLE”.
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If this set of fines and penalties IS upheld (and not dismissed by the potential California ballot measure) the American people would actually have a SHOT at holding the paint companies accountable for cleaning up all the hazards they have created, the hazards that poisoned my kids and millions of other children now and in past generations (and will continue to into the future if not cleaned up.)
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Sincerely,
Tamara (& Len) Rubin
Again, please watch the video AND read the linked article. Please note: THIS (lead paint and the fact that for decades lead paint manufacturers knowingly sold products to coat our homes that were toxic to humans) is the REAL issue. I have been targeted by Sherwin Williams (they even used to send their lobbyists to my speaking engagements around the country!!!) THIS is the main reason why I need your support to continue doing what I am doing [lead in dishes and baby bottles is a minor side-issue when compared to the lead paint remaining in millions of American homes today.] #NotAnotherSilkwood. Please help me. Thank you.
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Thank you LA times for making this video and writing this piece!
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To learn more about my advocacy check out http://www.LeadSafeMama.com
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To chip in in support of my advocacy (and the legal costs I have incurred as a result of speaking out against industry in this way): https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/chip-in/
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If anyone is feeling particularly generous, I could use about $20,000 today towards my legal fees related to the persecution I have been subject to over the past 21 months. Thank you.
Sherwin Williams Lead Paint Verdict Appeal and California Ballot Measure from Tamara Rubin on Vimeo.
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