Ruiz-Guzman v. Amvac Chemical Corp., 7 P.3d 795 (Wash. 2000)
After exposure to a highly toxic pesticide known as Phosdrin, three migrant farm workers suffered substantial neurological damage. They worked on a Washington apple plantation at the time of their exposure. The workers filed suit against the manufacturer of the pesticide, claiming that is was too dangerous to be on the market. The state of Washington had, in fact, banned Phosdrin six weeks after the workers were injured. Baron & Budd was recruited to handle the appeal after the case was dismissed. One of Baron and Budd’s attorney, working pro bono and in conjunction with several other lawyers, was able to successfully persuade the Washington Supreme Court to permit the farm workers to continue with their case. The plaintiffs’ attorneys argued that the Supreme Court should adopt rules for product defect cases. Later, the case was settled for an undisclosed sum on remand.
Results depend on the facts of each case.