A group of 94 plaintiffs has filed suit against IBM in New York’s state Supreme Court seeking damages for the company’s role in dumping toxic chemicals near a former factory that allegedly contributed to residents developing cancers, heart defects, and other problems. According to attorneys, the main pollutant is trichloroethylene, which was first found drifting into homes and other businesses in the area in 2003. IBM operated the Endicott, N.Y., plant from 1924 until it was sold in 2002; the company has since moved to clean up or mitigate at least some of the pollution. The suit filed yesterday seeks damages of over $100 million.
