IBM denies accusations in NY contamination suit

04 January 2008 16:26  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--There is no legal or scientific basis to a lawsuit accusing IBM of sickening New York state residents through the irresponsible handling of aromatic and chlorinated solvents, the US computer company said on Friday.

IBM said it will vigourously defend itself against the suit, which was filed against the company in Broome County Supreme Court in New York state.

The suit was filed by residents who lived near a former IBM plant in Endicott, a village in New York roughly 180 miles (290 km) northwest of New York City.

From 1924 through 2002, IBM built typewriters, time recorders, computers and other business products at the plant, the suit said.

To make the products, IBM used trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethane, benzene and trichlorotrifluorethane, the suit said.

The suit accused IBM of allowing the chemicals to contaminate the environment, causing people who lived near the plant to become ill.

By: Al Greenwood
+1 713 525 2653

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