Key facts
- A $150 million settlement has been reached for 1,373 Peruvians allegedly poisoned by lead emissions from a smelter.
- Cardinal Pedro Barreto, who led a campaign for justice, called the settlement a "historic milestone."
- The settlement concludes a 19-year legal battle against Doe Run Company, a subsidiary of Renco Group.
- The lawsuit alleged Doe Run failed to reduce lead emissions, causing permanent injuries.
- Each plaintiff is expected to receive at least $100,000.
- Doe Run did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
Cardinal Pedro Barreto of Peru has lauded a $150 million out-of-court settlement reached with the Doe Run Company, a subsidiary of Renco Group, for 1,373 individuals who allegedly suffered lead poisoning as children due to emissions from a smelter in La Oroya, Peru. Barreto, who faced death threats for his nearly two-decade campaign for justice, described the settlement as a "historic milestone," though he noted that financial compensation cannot fully address the neurological and other health impacts suffered by the victims.
The legal battle, which began in 2007, alleged that Doe Run failed to adequately reduce lead emissions from its multi-metal smelter, leading to permanent injuries. The settlement, brokered by the St. Louis-based law firm Schlichter Bogard, brings closure to one of the longest-running civil lawsuits against a multinational corporation for environmental pollution causing harm in another country. Doe Run Resources Corporation, headquartered in St. Louis and owned by US billionaire Ira Rennert, did not admit wrongdoing.
Each of the 1,373 plaintiffs, now young adults, is expected to receive at least $100,000. Jerry Schlichter, a partner at the law firm, highlighted the significance of holding an American company accountable for actions abroad, calling it a "historic tipping point." Researchers from Saint Louis University had previously found extremely high blood lead levels in children in La Oroya, with nearly 100% of children under six having levels above those known to cause developmental impairments. Barreto emphasized that the local population deserves recognition for enduring immense suffering.