DynCorp Chem Spray Suit Given Second Wind
A D.C. federal judge gave some much-needed lifeblood to two lawsuits against DynCorp over an anti-drug herbicide operation in Colombia...During a hearing Friday on DynCorp International Inc.’s summary judgment bid, U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle said that all future rulings for 20 “test” plaintiffs would not bind the larger group, considering the allegations are factually specific to each individual...Judge Huvelle had inherited the cases after U.S. District Judge Richard W. Roberts...resigned...The original suit, filed Sept. 11, 2001, sought damages from DynCorp on behalf of individuals allegedly exposed to a toxic herbicide sprayed on suspected drug farms in Colombia under a...cooperative program between the U.S. and Colombia...Judge Roberts found the plaintiffs' expert witness failed to establish causation at trial and dismissed counts of personal injury, property damage, and damage to public health in March 2013. On Friday, DynCorp pressed the court to grant summary judgment on the plaintiffs’ remaining claims...[Subscription required]