Overview
Ethylene oxide litigation involves claims by people who lived or worked near medical sterilization facilities and were later diagnosed with cancer. The lawsuits allege that emissions from these plants caused their illnesses. Cases have been filed in Illinois and Georgia against companies including Sterigenics, BD, and C.R. Bard. The record shows two jury verdicts, two settlement agreements, and ongoing litigation in multiple jurisdictions.
First Illinois Verdict: September 2022
On September 19, 2022, an Illinois jury in Cook County delivered the first verdict in an ethylene oxide case. In Kamuda v. Sterigenics, the jury awarded $363 million to Sue Kamuda over emissions from the Willowbrook plant operated by Sterigenics.[1]
This was the first time a jury had decided an ethylene oxide exposure claim on the merits. The verdict established a benchmark for how juries might evaluate these cases, though it did not resolve the broader legal questions about causation or liability that apply across all pending claims.
Illinois Settlement: June 2023
In June 2023, Sterigenics resolved its pending ethylene oxide claims related to the Willowbrook, Illinois plant for $408 million. The settlement covered the claims that were pending at that time in Illinois.[2]
A settlement resolves claims without a court ruling on the merits. It does not constitute an admission of liability and does not establish legal precedent for other cases. The exact number of claims covered by the settlement is not specified in the record we track.
Georgia Settlement: October 2023
On October 16, 2023, Sterigenics settled 79 Georgia ethylene oxide claims tied to its Smyrna plant in Cobb County. The settlement was reported at $35 million.[3]
This settlement resolved claims related to a different facility than the Illinois cases. Like the Illinois settlement, it did not involve a court determination of the merits of the underlying allegations.
First Georgia Verdict: May 2025
On May 2, 2025, a Gwinnett County jury in Georgia delivered the first Georgia verdict in an ethylene oxide case. In Walker v. C.R. Bard, the jury awarded $20 million to Gary Walker against C.R. Bard and BD over emissions from the Covington plant.[4]
The verdict is on appeal. BD denies that its emissions are unsafe. More than 400 similar cases are pending against Bard and BD in Georgia.[4]
An appeal means the losing parties are asking a higher court to review the verdict. Until the appeal is resolved, the verdict is not final. The appeal process can take months or years, and the appellate court may affirm the verdict, reduce it, reverse it, or order a new trial.
Georgia Summary Judgment Ruling: March 2026
On March 31, 2026, the court in the Georgia Sterigenics personal injury cases issued phase one summary judgment rulings.[3]
A summary judgment ruling decides legal questions before trial, typically by determining whether certain claims or defenses can proceed based on the law and undisputed facts. A phase one ruling suggests the court is addressing the litigation in stages. The record we track does not show the substance of these rulings or which party prevailed on which issues.
Where Things Stand Today
As of the most recent entry in the record, March 31, 2026, the Georgia Sterigenics personal injury cases have reached the summary judgment stage.[3] The Walker verdict against C.R. Bard and BD remains on appeal.[4] More than 400 similar cases against Bard and BD are pending in Georgia.[4]
The record we track does not show trial dates for the pending Georgia cases. It does not show whether additional settlements have been reached since October 2023. It does not show the outcome of the appeal in the Walker case or the substance of the March 2026 summary judgment rulings in the Sterigenics cases.
What Is Not Known Yet
The record we track does not show the results of the appeal in Walker v. C.R. Bard. It does not show what the March 2026 summary judgment rulings decided or how they affect the pending Georgia Sterigenics cases. It does not show whether any of the more than 400 pending cases against Bard and BD in Georgia have trial dates. It does not show whether claims are pending in other states or against other companies. It does not show whether any court has issued a final ruling on the merits of the underlying allegations about whether ethylene oxide emissions cause cancer at the exposure levels alleged in these cases.
Sources
- Kamuda v. Sterigenics (Cook County, Ill.) (2022-09-19). Secondary report: abc7chicago.com
- Willowbrook claims (Ill.) (2023-06-01). Secondary report: natlawreview.com
- Georgia claims (Cobb County) (2023-10-16). Primary document: investors.soterahealth.com
- Walker v. C.R. Bard (Gwinnett County, Ga.) (2025-05-02). Secondary report: pennlawgroup.com
Litigation facts on this page come from the TortIntel litigation record and the documents linked above. Last checked against that record on 2026-10-24. If you see an error, tell us and we will correct it.