DuPont ordered to pay $5.1 million in trial over Teflon-making chemical

By Jessica Dye

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A U.S. jury on Wednesday ordered DuPont to pay $5.1 million to a man who said he developed testicular cancer from exposure to a toxic chemical used to make Teflon at one of its plants, according to a DuPont spokesman.

It is the second time jurors in Ohio federal court have found against DuPont, which is facing more than 3,400 lawsuits from residents who say they contracted one of six diseases linked to perfluorooctanoic acid, known as PFOA or C-8, which is used to make products such as Teflon non-stick cookware.

Following a five-week trial, jurors deliberated for less than a day before finding DuPont was negligent and awarding $5.1 million in compensatory damages to David Freeman, an Ohio resident who said he developed testicular cancer from his exposure to C-8 in drinking water.

The jury also decided that DuPont had acted with actual malice, a finding that exposes the company to punitive damages, the amount of which will be determined at a proceeding starting Thursday.

A DuPont spokesman declined to comment. While DuPont is the named defendant, a recent spin-off of its performance chemicals segment, Chemours Co, will cover its liability.

A spokeswoman for Chemours, Cynthia Salitsky, said the verdict will be appealed. To the extent DuPont claims indemnification for the verdict, “Chemours retains its defenses to such claims,” she said in a statement.

Lawyers for Freeman did not immediately return a request for comment. The trial was a so-called bellwether, the verdict of which is intended to help the companies and plaintiffs value remaining cases alleging similar facts.

The first trial over C-8 exposure resulted in a $1.6 million verdict and no punitive damages last year.

Chemours shares closed down 22.5 percent at $5.93 in heavy volume. DuPont shares ended down 1.8 percent at $61.85 per share.

(Reporting by Jessica Dye; Additional reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Chris Reese)