Punitive damages possible in suit against DuPont over C8

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a motion arguing that evidence doesn’t support punitive damages for an Ohio woman who says she got cancer after drinking water contaminated by a chemical discharged from a DuPont plant.

The case might help settle thousands of similar lawsuits about the chemical giant’s dumping of C8 into local drinking water.

Plaintiff Clara Bartlett alleges Delaware-based DuPont didn’t inform the public but knew potential risks posed by C8 that was deposited into the Ohio River by a plant near Parkersburg, W.Va.

DuPont’s chief scientist has testified he didn’t know until 2012 that C8 could cause several diseases.