Modine Manufacturing Co. Settles Class-Action Lawsuit

By Robert Carrier

Published on February 27, 2008

The plaintiffs in the case say that groundwater and air pollution originating from plants run by Modine Manufacturing Co. and chemical manufacturer Rohm and Haas resulted in several cases of a rare type of brain cancer in the small town of McCullom Lake, roughly 1 ½ miles from the Modine plant.

Though Modine denies responsibility in the case, the company agreed last month to pay $2 million to settle the lawsuit, which was filed in April 2006. Rohm and Haas, which is also named in the suit, said it has no plans to settle and will continue contesting the residents' claims.

The money will be distributed between the claimants, the community of McCullom Lake, and the legal teams who filed the lawsuit. The majority of the settlement, $1.4 million, will be used to implement a medical monitoring program in Lake McCullom. The program will provide up to $1,400 per person to pay for MRIs to help diagnose future cases of cancer.

An additional $100,000 will be used to set-up a property damage fund and the remaining $500,000 will be used to pay for legal fees. Modine also settled out of court with the individual plaintiffs for undisclosed amounts.

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