[ RadSafe ] Seattle news story about the Hanford Downwinders court decision

[Conklin, Al]

For your information only:

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/225465_hanforded.asp
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/225465_hanforded.asp> 

Hanford: Acknowledging damage 
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD
Like bomb victims in Japan and people living near atomic testing sites, many
people in the Northwest suffered long-term damage early in the nuclear era.
They deserve help.
A jury in Spokane last week recognized the health effects of radiation on
two thyroid cancer victims, both of whom lived near the Hanford Nuclear
Reservation. The federal jury awarded more than $500,000 in total
compensation for the two, finding that radiation likely caused the illnesses
of Gloria Wise and Steven Stanton. 
Like thousands of others living downwind from Hanford, Wise and Stanton were
exposed to radiation deliberately released into the air during World War II
and the Cold War. The jury's findings represent a proper acknowledgement
that, however one views the development and use of atomic weapons, the bomb
also brought about unnecessary and often tragic troubles.
At the same time, the jury rejected claims by three other plaintiffs, who
suffered other thyroid-related problems, and deadlocked on whether Hanford
radiation releases caused another plaintiff's thyroid cancer. The plaintiffs
and three corporations that ran operations at Hanford could appeal parts of
the rulings.
Attorneys for the companies suggested that the relatively modest
compensation and the rejection of some claims mean that most of the 2,300
plaintiffs in the "Downwinder" cases have little reason to continue
litigation. The jury awards were less than the cost of bringing the cases,
according to an attorney representing the contractors. As in many legal
matters, the best outcome could be a settlement, preferably a generous and
fair one. After the verdict, U.S. District Judge Frem Nielsen reportedly
said, "I hope at this stage the parties give a good faith effort to
mediation." 
Especially with the government legally required to pay the contractors'
legal costs and any compensation losses, it would be unfortunate if
attorneys' costs made it impossible for other victims to continue seeking
compensation. The jury recognized the suffering caused by radiation. That
should be a victory for truth and the people living downwind from Hanford,
even if it takes specific federal or congressional intervention to help the
victims as well as the contractors.
(c) 1998-2005 Seattle Post-Intelligencer


Allen W. Conklin
Supervising Health Physicist
Air Emissions & Defense Waste Section
Office of Radiation Protection
Department of Health
Building 5, 7171 Cleanwater Lane
New Market Center
Olympia WA  98504-7827
office (360) 236-3261
cell    (360) 239-1237
page  (360) 786-2975
> Public Health -- Always working for a healthier and safer Washington.
> 
> 
>