The Denver-based Cotter uranium processing company has been ordered to pay $16.3 million to 32 people who suffered radiation poisoning and other health problems while living near its mill. Three plaintiffs have died since the lawsuit was filed ten years ago.
This is the fourth trial involving pollution claims against the Cotter mill, which produced uranium fuel for almost 30 years. Thirteen plaintiffs won a lawsuit in 1998, but it was overturned on appeal and retried as part of this case. Another case in 1992 was settled and a case in 2000 is going through appeal. Cotter is expected to go to the Court of Appeal over the recent ruling.
