In 2011 Greenleef enterprises recognized that dozens of their customers were experiencing yellowing and decay in their trees and bushes. After investigation into the cause the Heber County company filed a law suit on behalf of its clients against DuPont Co. They found that the herbicide, Imprelis, used had been spreading to unwanted areas and killing precious and expensive decorative trees. DuPont had already taken Imprelis off the market by the time this complaint had reached them due to damage done to other cities closer to their Delaware headquarters. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency forced DuPont to take Imprelis off the market in August of 2011.
The law suit originated by Greeleef has since been settled but dozens of home owners in Park City have recently rejected the class action settlement. DuPont has agreed to spend up to nine hundred million replacing damaged trees. Park City residents are rejecting this claiming that the damages done to them cost ten times that. They feel that the compensation, though a necessary gesture, is inadequate.
We at Christensen & Hymas hope that both sides will be able to come to an agreement which they feel is fair and are thankful that this misuse of chemicals only lead to the death of trees and not humans.
The misuse of chemicals and chemicals that act stronger than expected leads to 10,830 calls to poison control centers each and every day. Add to that victims who are rushed straight to the emergency never realizing that there issue is chemical based.
If you or someone your know has encountered a harmful misuse of chemicals call the accident specialists at Christensen & Hymas at (801)506-0800.
Photo Courtesy of Sheggy
Story originally from The Salt Lake Tribune