SQM Inc., Santiago, reported on Sept. 8 that a jury in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles has returned a verdict against SQM North America for US$48.1 million in a lawsuit initiated in 2010 by the City of Pomona, Calif., seeking damages for alleged contamination from the use of SQMNA’s fertilizer products in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
SQM said the verdict is not final and is subject to post-trial motions that SQMNA and plaintiff may file, as well as appeals to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. SQM said it plans to vigorously pursue its rights to challenge the verdict in both the District Court and Court of Appeals.
The trial was the second retrial ordered by the Ninth Circuit in this lawsuit (GM Aug. 18, 2017). The two prior jury verdicts were in favor of SQMNA.