Should they be liable?

“I have mixed emotions about this .

On one hand, I hate to see more "product liability" lawsuits. On the other hand, lead based paint may have been the second most damaging thing to ever happen to children. (Crack cocaine is obviously the most damaging).”

“Chili, I agree that it is or was a huge threat to children, but I think this lawsuit is ridiculous. It was banned in '78 and now they bring suit? Dumb, if you ask me.”

“To me, if they knew it was a potential hazard but sold it anyway, then yes - they are liable.”

“I think Anheuser-Bush should be liable for income lost due to my delayed college graduation.

How about auto companies prior to seatbelts?”

“I ate paint chips as a kid and i'm fin...WOOF WOOF...”

“I think Violin nailed it. I will be interested to find out if any of the companies had any idea of the potential hazard.

To me this appears to be related to the asbestos litigation.”

“I notice the AG is running for governor.

It's my thought that states are using this type of lawsuit to try to raise revenue without having to ask for a tax increase. Of course we all pay for it in the long run.”

“If companies are definitely liable but only pass on the cost to consumers, what to do?

Why not criminally charge the people involved and lock 'em up?”

“Asbestos was made illegal AND it had to be removed from a lot of buildings immediately- Plenty of people I know who work in the NY schools systems are suing over asbestosis, even though they got it way before we found out how hazardous it is- If lead paint was found to be dangerous, they should have ordered its removal when they made it illegal, same as asbestos. By the way, the building I work in still has asbestos in it- Hell of a lawsuit in the making.”

“Well for one thing so long as the paint/asbestos is intact it is not a hazard and its removal can increase exsposure”

“Lead paint sucks!

8(”

“Removal can increase exposure, which is why while it was being removed in our building, the guys doing the work were dressed in full protective suits- They just neglected to remove anything that was in the boiler/blower room area- They don't give a crap about the mechanics in the building, and they had to save money somewhere, which is what all this is about in the end- It's far too expensive to completely remove any hazardous material, so it's cheaper to settle in court.”