West Virginians Accept Reduced Damages in DuPont Case

Spelter, West Virginia residents who won a class-action lawsuit against DuPont over long-term exposure to toxins won’t fight a court ruling that reduced punitive damages awarded in the case.

The lawsuit alleged that a former zinc plant in Spelter contaminated surrounding air, soil and water.

In March, the West Virginia Supreme Court reduced the $196 million punitive damages award to about $117.7 million. Another $20 million was cut to credit Delaware-based DuPont for cleanup costs.

Lawyers for the residents said in a recent filing in Harrison County Circuit Court that they would accept the reduced punitive damages award.

A jury has yet to decide whether the underlying claims were filed in time to permit the remaining damage