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GWC Files Lawsuits Against Sterigenics for Cancer Victims

SterigenicsGWC Injury Lawyers LLC is among several leading litigation firms filing hundreds of new lawsuits in the Circuit Court of Cook County on behalf of victims who were exposed to ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from the Sterigenics sterilization facilities in Willowbrook, IL.

“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the battle to hold Sterigenics responsible for the emissions of ethylene oxide into Willowbrook and the surrounding communities. The devastation this has caused to victims and their families is incalculable,” said GWC Partner Lance D. Northcutt. “The families represented by GWC and other firms are seeking accountability for the human suffering Sterigenics has brought to this community that they continue to deny.”

Sterigenics, whose ethylene oxide emissions have been scientifically linked to high cancer rates, operated in Willowbrook from 1984 to 2019. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that EtO is a human carcinogen and studies have shown exposure to ethylene oxide can cause numerous forms of cancer, including breast cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Sterigenics and its predecessor entities were aware of these risks since the mid-1980s.

Despite knowing the risks, Sterigenics annually emitted thousands of pounds of EtO into the atmosphere for thirty-four years. As a result of the company’s negligence, the areas surrounding its Willowbrook facilities have some of the highest cancer rates in the country. After being ordered to temporarily cease sterilization activities in early 2019, Sterigenics formally announced it was closing its Willowbrook facilities in September 2019.

“Sterigenics may have left town, but Willowbrook and its surrounding communities will be dealing with its tragic legacy for years to come,” said GWC attorney Timothy Keiser. “Sadly, the end of the polluting does not make everything return to normal. These communities are still caring for sick loved ones, grieving those lost and terrified of what diagnoses the future may hold.”

“No person or family is affected in a vacuum,” Mr. Northcutt said. “Each EtO-related diagnosis impacts so much more than just the person receiving the diagnosis. It affects spouses, children, family members, friends, and loved ones too.”

Sterigenics Lawsuit Attorneys

With billions recovered for its clients and more than four decades in practice, GWC Injury Lawyers LLC is one of the premier personal injury and workers’ compensation law firms in Illinois. GWC has been retained by various individuals who have lived or worked near the Sterigenics facility in Willowbrook for a number of years and have developed cancer or other serious medical conditions that may be related to their exposure to ethylene oxide.
If you have lived or worked near the Sterigenics facility in Willowbrook and have been diagnosed with cancer, contact GWC today for a free consultation. Call our office at (866) 686-0047 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.

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