Former popcorn plant worker wins $20 million in damages

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Former popcorn plant worker wins $20 million in damages3/15/04The companies face 29 more lawsuits.

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Jurors awarded $20 million to a former popcorn plant worker who claims his rare lung disease is the result of fumes from butter flavoring. The jury deliberated for about three hours on Monday before returning the verdict.

Peoples is the first of 30 former workers at the Gilster- Lee popcorn plant in Jasper to have his lawsuit go to trial. The workers sued flavoring manufacturers International Flavors and Fragrances and its subsidiary, Bush Boake . The lawsuits claim the companies should have known the fumes from the butter flavoring were hazardous. He said the defendants failed to warn employees of the dangers or to provide safety instructions. The lawsuits did not target Gilster- Lee.

The jury ordered the companies to pay $18 million to Peoples and $2 million to his wife, Cassandra, for compensatory personal injury damages. This is the largest amount of damages ever awarded by a jury or judge in Jasper County. Peoples originally asked for $35 million for personal injury.

After the verdict was read, the couple hugged each other and cried. The defense lawyers left without making a comment. His attorney, Ken McClain, says the trials for the rest of the 30 lawsuits could last all summer. This trial lasted just more than two weeks, including jury selection.

Several years ago, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration started investigating the chemicals in bags of popcorn to try to determine if popcorn plant workers are at risk. The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating the gases released when bags of popcorn are popped to see if the gases cause pollution. Health experts have not found evidence that people who pop and eat popcorn in bags at home are at risk.