Willowbrook Woman Awarded $363 Million From Sterogenics By Jury

WILLOWBROOK, IL — A Willowbrook woman who lived less than a half-mile away from a medical sterilization plant for more than 30 years has been awarded $363 million by a Cook County jury that determined that the company was liable for the woman developing breast cancer.

Sue Kamuda became the first of more than 750 people to sue Sterigenics, which has been under federal investigation since 2018. The company has been investigated after its Willowbrook plant was identified on a national map of health hazards for people who were found to be breathing toxic chemicals, according to a news release announcing the judgment on Monday.

After closing arguments began late last week in Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago, the jury came back with its verdict on Monday. The $363 million judgment includes $38 million in compensatory damages and $325 million in punitive damages.

“We are immensely thankful to the jury for sitting through such a lengthy trial and for providing Sue with the justice she deserves,” Kamuda’s attorney, Lance D. Northcutt said in a news release. “But this verdict is about more than Sue, it’s about holding these companies accountable. There are many more cases to be tried and we hope Sue’s case sets a precedent that Sterigenics cannot distort science with money, and they should be held liable for gambling with people’s lives.”

Data reported by the company to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency showed the Willowbrook census tract was in the 99.9th percentile for cancer risk in the country, attorneys said. The EPA study pointed to Sterigenics’ EtO emissions as a potential cause, prompting public outrage and hundreds of lawsuits against the Willowbrook plant.

Kamuda, who is 70, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and went through surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation to treat her illness, attorneys said. Kamuda, who moved to Willowbrook with her husband in 1985, is currently in remission.

The couple moves to the area less than a year after Sterigenics began operations in the community. During the trial, Kamuda called the day she moved into the home “the happiest day of her life.”

Unaware of the toxins being released into the air, however, all three of Mrs. Kamuda’s children attended school within a mile of the plant. Her son, Brian Kamuda, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2021. Brian Kamuda also filed a lawsuit against Sterigenics through his attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard and his case will go to trial at a later date.

Attorneys argued during the trial that once released, toxins would penetrate through boxes, wrapping, and other packaging to kill every living microorganism on the products, the news release said.

Before employees could re-enter the sterilization chamber, the poisonous gas would be released from the building and into the community through a vacuum pump. During this process, employees were strictly instructed to wear biohazard gear to protect themselves from the carcinogen, Kamuda's attorney said Monday.

Mrs. Kamuda has no family history that would make her genetically predisposed to cancer and prior to her diagnosis, she enjoyed an active, healthy lifestyle, her attorneys said. Mrs. Kamuda testified that prior to her diagnosis, she was an avid runner who enjoyed running 5Ks with her family.

While she is still active in other ways, she has not run since her illness.

During the trial, a former Sterigenics CEO testified that he knew EtO was dangerous when he stepped into the leadership position in 2011, but he never issued directives to tighten up inconsistent emissions controls across Sterigenics’ facilities. He added that the company could have reduced emissions back in the early 2000s.

When he left his position as CEO in 2016, the company’s profits had increased from about $94 million to $225 million, which was attributed to the acquisition of other companies and increased sterilization, Kamuda’s attorneys said.

It was further alleged that Sterigenics and parent company Sotera began funneling $1.3 billion of its assets to investors beginning in 2016 when the unfavorable EPA reports were finalized regarding the potency of ethylene oxide.

In a statement following Monday’s judgment, a Sterigenics spokesperson questioned the jury’s decision and said the company plans to challenge the ruling.

“We do not believe the jury verdict in this matter reflects the evidence presented in court,” the spokesperson said. “Sterigenics is evaluating the verdict and plans to challenge this decision through all appropriate process, including appeals. We will continue to vigorously defend against allegations about our ethylene oxide operations and emissions.

“We remain committed to our mission of Safeguarding Global Health. As we have consistently done throughout our history, we will continue to operate in compliance with applicable rules and regulations to ensure the safety of our employees, the communities in which we operate, and patients around the world.”