What is the current status of the EtO Sterilization lawsuit?

The EtO Sterilization litigation is currently active. Filing trend: New filings slowed at established sites (Willowbrook, Smyrna, Covington, Allentown, Waukegan) due to settlements and facility closures; emerging activity in California (~25 lawsuits filed 2024, 15 cases set for 2027 trials) and New Jersey (Cosmed Group bankruptcy, 2024).

Has there been a EtO Sterilization settlement?

$408M settlement — 879 Willowbrook cases (Jan. 2023); 79 Smyrna cases settled (2023); Medline Waukegan settlement reached, amount disputed with insurers; majority of B. Braun PA claims settled (2025); Steri-Tech $700K EPA/DOJ Clean Air Act settlement (Sept. 2026, Puerto Rico)

What verdicts have been reached in EtO Sterilization cases?

$363M verdict — Kamuda v. Sterigenics (Sept. 2022, Cook County); $20M compensatory verdict — Walker v. BD (May 2025, Covington, GA); $50M punitive phase declared mistrial, new punitive trial expected; defense verdict — Isaacks v. Terumo BCT (March 2025, Colorado)

What is the statute of limitations for EtO Sterilization claims?

{"entries":[{"state":"Illinois","duration":"2 years from discovery of injury","rule":"735 ILCS 5/13-202; discovery rule applies for latent disease claims per Kamuda v. Sterigenics U.S., LLC, Cook County Cir. Ct. (2022)","discoveryRule":"Accrues when plaintiff knows or reasonably should know of injury and its causal connection to EtO exposure","note":"Willowbrook/Sterigenics mass tort settled $408M

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Active litigation category30 eventsToxic Exposure

EtO Sterilization

Q: What is the EtO Sterilization lawsuit about?

{"summary":"EtO sterilization litigation has produced landmark outcomes including the $363 million Kamuda v. Sterigenics verdict (Cook County, Sept. 2022) and $408 million settlement resolving 879 Willowbrook claims (Jan. 2023), yet defense verdicts against B. Braun and Terumo BCT in 2024-2025 have tightened causation standards. Thousands of claims remain active across Georgia, Pennsylvania, New J

Environmental · claims that ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from commercial medical sterilizers and chemical plants caused cancer (leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer) in nearby residents and workers

Defendant

Sterigenics U.S., LLC

MDL / Track

See litigation status

Judge

Various

Plaintiffs

ACTIVE

Bellwether / Trial

$363M verdict — Kamuda v. Sterigenics (Sept. 2022, Cook County)
$20M compensatory verdict — Walker v. BD (May 2025, Covington, GA)
$50M punitive phase declared mistrial, new punitive trial expected
defense verdict — Isaacks v. Terumo BCT (March 2025, Colorado)

Settlement Status

$408M settlement — 879 Willowbrook cases (Jan. 2023)
79 Smyrna cases settled (2023)
Medline Waukegan settlement reached, amount disputed with insurers
majority of B. Braun PA claims settled (2025)
Steri-Tech $700K EPA/DOJ Clean Air Act settlement (Sept. 2026, Puerto Rico)

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← Torts Case overview Litigation status Geographic exposure Key defendants Timeline Statute of limitations Live activity News PubMed EPA Court filings Legislative

Case overview

EtO sterilization litigation has produced landmark outcomes including the $363 million Kamuda v. Sterigenics verdict (Cook County, Sept. 2022) and $408 million settlement resolving 879 Willowbrook claims (Jan. 2023), yet defense verdicts against B. Braun and Terumo BCT in 2024-2025 have tightened causation standards. Thousands of claims remain active across Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California, with Los Angeles Superior Court denying Sterigenics and Sotera Health motions for summary judgment and setting trials for January 25 and April 15, 2027; no federal MDL exists and cases proceed in coordinated state proceedings. In re: Ethylene Oxide Coordinated Pretrial Proceedings, Case No. 24 C 7261 (N.D. Ill.) was remanded to state court in December 2024 after Medline and Vantage settlements eliminated complete diversity.

Causation Theory

EPA's 2016 IRIS classification designates ethylene oxide as carcinogenic to humans with a unit risk estimate of 5 × 10⁻³ per μg/m³. A 2025 NIOSH cohort study in Environmental Health Perspectives found workers exposed at the 1 ppm occupational limit experienced substantially increased breast cancer mortality over 62 years of follow-up, with a supra-linear exposure-response curve; mechanistic data show EtO acts as a direct-acting alkylating agent causing genotoxicity. The 2018 NATA identified cancer risk hotspots near most EtO-emitting facilities, with measured Willowbrook concentrations far above the 100-in-1 million risk benchmark.

Litigation status

No federal MDL exists for EtO sterilization litigation; cases proceed in coordinated state court proceedings across multiple jurisdictions. In Illinois, Judge Jorge L. Alonso remanded coordinated Cook County cases to state court in December 2024 after Medline and Vantage settlements eliminated complete diversity (In re: Ethylene Oxide Coordinated Pretrial Proceedings, Case No. 24 C 7261, N.D. Ill.). Los Angeles Superior Court denied Sterigenics and Sotera Health motions for summary judgment in California cases, with trial dates set for January 25 and April 15, 2027.

Geographic exposure

EPA identifies 23 of ~100 commercial sterilization/fumigation facilities nationwide emitting EtO at neighborhood cancer-risk levels; ~14 million people live within exposure zones of EtO facilities per EPA estimates. Over 1,500 individual plaintiffs filed through 2025.

Henrico County, Virginia
Sterilization Services of Virginia facility — April 9, 2026 acute release of 580 pounds EtO from faulty check valve; EPA flagged 2022 as 1 of 23 high-risk sterilizers nationally; 260,000+ residents in exposure plume per NOAA HYSPLIT modeling; 71% of affected population Black; ~$50,000-$54,000 DEQ fine; presidential exemption delayed compliance to 2028. No active litigation reported; intake window open with recent acute exposure event.
Vernon/Maywood, California
Sterigenics U.S. facility — ~15 California residents filed Q2 2024 per industry timeline; newly scrutinized site with active intake window; litigation in discovery phase as of 2026. No revival window open.
Franklin, New Jersey
Cosmed Group facility — first wave plaintiffs filed 2023; company filed bankruptcy 2024 amid litigation costs; active pending litigation with open SOL for recent diagnoses.
Lakewood, Colorado
Terumo BCT facility — Isaacks et al. v. Terumo BCT Inc., No. 2022CV031124 (Colo. 1st Jud. Dist. March 2025); defense verdict; ~25 new cases filed during trial; hundreds remain pending.
Covington, Georgia
Becton Dickinson/CR Bard facility — resident claims settled May 2025; Gary Walker v. BD/CR Bard plaintiff verdict May 2025; truck driver exposure claims expanding theory to non-residential plaintiffs. Limited new intake post-settlement.
Allentown, Pennsylvania
B. Braun Medical Inc. facility — Multiple PA Residents v. B. Braun Medical Inc., ongoing; majority of claims settled 2025; additional litigation active per March 2026 timeline.
Smyrna, Georgia
Sterigenics Cobb County facility — 79-plaintiff group settled $35 million Oct. 2023; defense verdicts in Fornek v. Sterigenics and Glass v. B. Braun limit new personal injury intake.
Waukegan, Illinois (Lake County)
Medline/Steris Isomedix facility — settled March 1, 2025; mass tort resolution completed; limited new claims.
Willowbrook, Illinois
Sterigenics facility (closed 2019) — ~900 lawsuits, $408 million settlement Jan. 2023; Kamuda v. Sterigenics, $363 million verdict Sept. 19, 2022 (Cook County); facility closure limits new claims; first wave concluded.
Salinas, Puerto Rico
Steri-Tech facility — EPA 2022 modeling identified most dangerous sterilizer in U.S. and territories; August 2024 air monitoring showed 1,000+ times EPA acceptable risk threshold at residential monitor; 40 micrograms/cubic meter average, translating to 1-in-8 cancer risk; EPA notice of violation and $200,000 fine; company sued EPA; no reported personal injury litigation as of 2026.

Key defendants

Sterigenics U.S., LLC

Role: Sterilization Facility Operator

Core defendant in Willowbrook litigation. Paid $408M settlement (Jan. 2023) resolving 870+ claims following $363M Kamuda verdict. Facility shuttered 2019; consent decree allowed reopening under stricter controls but litigation exposure remains in other jurisdictions including New Mexico AG action.

Sotera Health Co.

Role: Parent Company

Sterigenics parent. Jointly liable in Willowbrook settlement. Denied facility posed safety risk while settling to avoid protracted litigation. Exposure extends to consolidated state court mass torts in Illinois and pending New Mexico AG action.

B. Braun Medical Inc.

Role: Medical Device Manufacturer

Allentown, Pennsylvania facility litigation. Mixed verdict posture: settled multiple PA resident claims (Feb. 2025) but secured defense verdict in Glass et al. (Dec. 2024). Continued exposure at operational sterilization sites.

Harcros Chemicals Inc.

Role: Chemical Manufacturer

Kansas City, Kansas facility operator. Facing active class action (Jeffries et al., D. Kan. Oct. 2025) alleging multi-decade emissions of EtO and other carcinogens. Successor liability theories target corporate predecessors including Elementis entities.

Medline Industries, Inc.

Role: Medical Supply Distributor

Lake County/Waukegan, Illinois facility co-defendant with Steris Isomedix. Settled resident claims (Mar. 2025). Previously survived 12(b)(6) challenge in Leslie v. Steris Isomedix (N.D. Ill.) but faced revived claims post-Berry.

Becton, Dickinson and Co.

Role: Medical Device Manufacturer

Covington, Georgia facility litigation. Settled resident claims (Oct. 2025). EPA identified BD Nebraska and Utah facilities as potential heightened cancer risk sites; litigation exposure expanding to additional geographic markets.

Defendant	Role	Intelligence Note
Sterigenics U.S., LLC	Sterilization Facility Operator	Core defendant in Willowbrook litigation. Paid $408M settlement (Jan. 2023) resolving 870+ claims following $363M Kamuda verdict. Facility shuttered 2019; consent decree allowed reopening under stricter controls but litigation exposure remains in other jurisdictions including New Mexico AG action.
Sotera Health Co.	Parent Company	Sterigenics parent. Jointly liable in Willowbrook settlement. Denied facility posed safety risk while settling to avoid protracted litigation. Exposure extends to consolidated state court mass torts in Illinois and pending New Mexico AG action.
B. Braun Medical Inc.	Medical Device Manufacturer	Allentown, Pennsylvania facility litigation. Mixed verdict posture: settled multiple PA resident claims (Feb. 2025) but secured defense verdict in Glass et al. (Dec. 2024). Continued exposure at operational sterilization sites.
Harcros Chemicals Inc.	Chemical Manufacturer	Kansas City, Kansas facility operator. Facing active class action (Jeffries et al., D. Kan. Oct. 2025) alleging multi-decade emissions of EtO and other carcinogens. Successor liability theories target corporate predecessors including Elementis entities.
Medline Industries, Inc.	Medical Supply Distributor	Lake County/Waukegan, Illinois facility co-defendant with Steris Isomedix. Settled resident claims (Mar. 2025). Previously survived 12(b)(6) challenge in Leslie v. Steris Isomedix (N.D. Ill.) but faced revived claims post-Berry.
Becton, Dickinson and Co.	Medical Device Manufacturer	Covington, Georgia facility litigation. Settled resident claims (Oct. 2025). EPA identified BD Nebraska and Utah facilities as potential heightened cancer risk sites; litigation exposure expanding to additional geographic markets.

Timeline

2016
EPA Reassesses EtO Cancer Risk
EPA's Integrated Risk Information System recalculates ethylene oxide inhalation cancer potency using updated methods applied to the NIOSH worker cohort.
2018
NATA Identifies Willowbrook Hotspot
EPA National Air Toxics Assessment identifies census tracts near Sterigenics Willowbrook facility among highest ethylene oxide cancer-risk zones nationally. ATSDR issues public health assessment documenting community exposure.
2019-02
Illinois EPA Seals Sterigenics Willowbrook
Illinois EPA issues seal order halting all sterilization operations at Sterigenics Willowbrook facility. Plant never reopened; Sterigenics announced permanent closure September 2019.
2022-09
$363M Verdict in Kamuda v. Sterigenics
Cook County jury awards Susan Kamuda $363 million ($38 million compensatory, $325 million punitive) against Sterigenics U.S., LLC and Sotera Health for breast cancer linked to Willowbrook emissions. First ethylene oxide plaintiff verdict in U.S. history. Kamuda v. Sterigenics U.S., LLC, Cook County Cir. Ct.
2022-11
Defense Verdict in Fornek v. Sterigenics
Cook County jury returns defense verdict for Sterigenics and Sotera Health in leukemia case brought by Margaret Fornek, same Willowbrook facility. Fornek v. Sterigenics U.S., LLC, Cook County Cir. Ct.
2023-01
$408M Settlement of 879 Willowbrook Claims
Sotera Health announces $408 million settlement resolving 879 ethylene oxide claims against Sterigenics in Cook County Circuit Court and N.D. Ill. Company denies liability.
2023-10
$35M Settlement of 79 Georgia Claims
Sterigenics settles 79 Georgia claims for $35 million through State Court of Gwinnett County. Settlement covers Smyrna-area plaintiffs, requires 100% participation, provides broad releases for private equity investors.
2024-12
Federal Coordination Dissolved; Cases Remanded
Judge Jorge L. Alonso remands coordinated Cook County cases to state court after Medline and Vantage settlements eliminate complete diversity. In re: Ethylene Oxide Coordinated Pretrial Proceedings, Case No. 24 C 7261, N.D. Ill.
2025-03
Defense Verdict in Isaacks v. Terumo BCT
Colorado jury returns defense verdict for Terumo BCT Inc. in ethylene oxide exposure case. Lisa Isaacks et al. v. Terumo BCT Inc., Colo. Dist. Ct.
2025-05
$20M Verdict for Truck Driver in Georgia
Georgia jury awards $20 million compensatory damages to Gary Walker against Becton Dickinson and CR Bard Inc. for ethylene oxide exposure in Covington; $50 million punitive phase declared mistrial, new punitive trial expected. Walker v. Becton Dickinson, Ga. Super. Ct.
2025-07
$34M Additional Willowbrook Settlement
Sterigenics and Sotera Health settle additional 129 Willowbrook claims for $34 million, outside original 879-claim settlement. Additional Willowbrook Claims v. Sterigenics U.S., LLC; Sotera Health, Cook County Cir. Ct.
2026-03
California Cases Advance to 2027 Trials
Los Angeles Superior Court denies Sterigenics and Sotera Health motions for summary judgment, permits California cases to proceed. Trial dates set for January 25 and April 15, 2027. 15 California Residents v. Sterigenics U.S., L.A. County Super. Ct.

Statute of limitations

No federal MDL established as of March 2026; cases proceed in state court mass torts. EPA interim registration review decision issued January 14, 2025 (90 FR 3208). April 5, 2024 NESHAP rule tightened emissions standards. Screen for last exposure date and diagnosis date to determine accrual. Federal preemption defenses raised but largely rejected in state court rulings to date.

⚠ 1 state with critical SOL — act immediately

Illinois

2 years from discovery of injury

Rule: 735 ILCS 5/13-202; discovery rule applies for latent disease claims per Kamuda v. Sterigenics U.S., LLC, Cook County Cir. Ct. (2022)

Discovery: Accrues when plaintiff knows or reasonably should know of injury and its causal connection to EtO exposure

Willowbrook/Sterigenics mass tort settled $408M June 2023; new filings focused on Medline (Waukegan) and other active facilities. No revival statute pending.

Georgia

2 years from injury discovery

Rule: O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; discovery rule for toxic exposure claims per Smyrna/Covington Sterigenics litigation

Discovery: Accrues upon diagnosis or when causal link to EtO emissions reasonably discoverable

Smyrna facility closed; Covington (BD) remains operational. Defense verdicts in 2024-2025 noted in industry reporting; SOL still running for newly diagnosed.

Pennsylvania

2 years from discovery

Rule: 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5524(2); discovery rule applies for occupational/environmental disease

Discovery: Accrues when plaintiff knows of injury and its cause

January 2026: Pa. state court declined class certification in EtO litigation per TruLaw update. Individual filings continue. Allentown area facilities active.

Colorado

2 years from discovery of injury

Rule: C.R.S. § 13-80-104(1)(a); discovery rule for toxic torts per Lakewood Sterigenics facility litigation

Discovery: Accrues upon reasonable discovery of injury and causal connection

December 2025: Colorado air regulators advancing April 2026 rulemaking for first state EtO emissions limits. Lakewood facility closed 2019; latency period supports ongoing filings.

California

2 years from discovery

Rule: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1; discovery rule per Jolly v. Eli Lilly & Co., 751 P.2d 923 (1988)

Discovery: Accrues upon discovery of injury and its cause

Q2 2024: ~15 California residents filed v. Sterigenics U.S. per industry timeline. Facilities in Carson, Santa Teresa region. No revival window open.

⚠New Jersey

2 years from discovery

Rule: N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2; discovery rule for toxic torts per Lavelle v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., 824 A.2d 797 (2003)

Discovery: Accrues upon reasonable discovery of injury and its causal connection to EtO exposure

2024: Franklin facility became new litigation target with ~25 lawsuits filed. Emerging intake opportunity with recent diagnosis latency.

State	SOL	Rule	Discovery Rule	Notes
Illinois	2 years from discovery of injury	735 ILCS 5/13-202; discovery rule applies for latent disease claims per Kamuda v. Sterigenics U.S., LLC, Cook County Cir. Ct. (2022)	Accrues when plaintiff knows or reasonably should know of injury and its causal connection to EtO exposure	Willowbrook/Sterigenics mass tort settled $408M June 2023; new filings focused on Medline (Waukegan) and other active facilities. No revival statute pending.
Georgia	2 years from injury discovery	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; discovery rule for toxic exposure claims per Smyrna/Covington Sterigenics litigation	Accrues upon diagnosis or when causal link to EtO emissions reasonably discoverable	Smyrna facility closed; Covington (BD) remains operational. Defense verdicts in 2024-2025 noted in industry reporting; SOL still running for newly diagnosed.
Pennsylvania	2 years from discovery	42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5524(2); discovery rule applies for occupational/environmental disease	Accrues when plaintiff knows of injury and its cause	January 2026: Pa. state court declined class certification in EtO litigation per TruLaw update. Individual filings continue. Allentown area facilities active.
Colorado	2 years from discovery of injury	C.R.S. § 13-80-104(1)(a); discovery rule for toxic torts per Lakewood Sterigenics facility litigation	Accrues upon reasonable discovery of injury and causal connection	December 2025: Colorado air regulators advancing April 2026 rulemaking for first state EtO emissions limits. Lakewood facility closed 2019; latency period supports ongoing filings.
California	2 years from discovery	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1; discovery rule per Jolly v. Eli Lilly & Co., 751 P.2d 923 (1988)	Accrues upon discovery of injury and its cause	Q2 2024: ~15 California residents filed v. Sterigenics U.S. per industry timeline. Facilities in Carson, Santa Teresa region. No revival window open.
⚠New Jersey	2 years from discovery	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2; discovery rule for toxic torts per Lavelle v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., 824 A.2d 797 (2003)	Accrues upon reasonable discovery of injury and its causal connection to EtO exposure	2024: Franklin facility became new litigation target with ~25 lawsuits filed. Emerging intake opportunity with recent diagnosis latency.

Live intelligence

AI litigation brief

EtO Sterilization remains active litigation category with 30 current signals in the accepted feed.

Overview

Key developments

KRCR news on Sep 28: Major leak of carcinogenic gas becomes flashpoint in national debate over emission rules - KRCR
EPA News Release regulatory on Sep 22: EPA and DOJ Reach $700000 Settlement with Puerto Rico Sterilizer ...
PubMed research on Sep 8: Use of machine learning to unlock cycle performance and future parametric release of terminally sterilized medical devices at scale using low temperature gaseous hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2): A Review.

Trajectory

Press and regulatory signals are moving in tandem for EtO Sterilization. The next escalation check is whether these agency actions prompt new PACER filings or MDL scheduling orders.

Editorial intelligence

Editorial coverage should stay tied to source-backed developments and avoid placeholder status copy for EtO Sterilization.

Generated Sep 30, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

30 events detected

Google News (17)

StudyPubMed

Detected Sep 30, 2026, 10:08 AM UTC

Use of machine learning to unlock cycle performance and future parametric release of terminally sterilized medical devices at scale using low temperature gaseous hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2): A Review.

Journal of applied microbiology • Rowan NJ • PMID 42709422 • Journal Article.

Confidence 74%Published Sep 8, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCSource →

StudyPubMed

Detected Sep 30, 2026, 10:08 AM UTC

Regarding ethylene exposure and endogenous ethylene oxide levels in humans (Lin et al., 2025).

Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology • Bus JS • PMID 42701120 • Letter.

Confidence 74%Published Sep 5, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCSource →

StudyPubMed

Detected Sep 30, 2026, 10:08 AM UTC

Chlorine dioxide gas sterilization of cold-chain or temperature-sensitive devices.

PloS one • Livingston K • PMID 42658848 • Journal Article.

Confidence 74%Published Aug 27, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCSource →

StudyPubMed

Detected Sep 30, 2026, 10:08 AM UTC

Using nitric oxide (NO) for gas sterilization at room temperature: A novel sterilization modality.

PloS one • Frost MC • PMID 42627799 • Journal Article.

Confidence 74%Published Aug 21, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCSource →

StudyPubMed

Detected Sep 30, 2026, 10:08 AM UTC

Standardization of color change interpretation for sterilization chemical indicators: A multicenter analysis aligned with international safety color standards.

American journal of infection control • Zheng X • PMID 42607947 • Journal Article.

Confidence 74%Published Aug 17, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCSource →

RegulatoryEPA

Detected Sep 23, 2026, 5:50 AM UTC

EPA and DOJ Reach $700000 Settlement with Puerto Rico Sterilizer ...

EPA and DOJ reached a $700,000 settlement with a Puerto Rico medical sterilizer for Clean Air Act violations related to ethylene oxide emissions, directly supporting the EtO environmental exposure litigation theory by documenting regulatory enforcement against commercial sterilizers for EtO release.

AI Litigation Note

EPA News Release regulatory on Sep 22 for EtO Sterilization. Regulatory developments can change intake posture and motion practice quickly.

Generated Sep 23, 2026, 5:50 AM UTC

Confidence 85%Published Sep 22, 2026, 8:49 PM UTCSource →

RegulatoryEPA

Detected Sep 17, 2026, 3:07 AM UTC

Sterigenics Willowbrook Facility - Background Information

This article provides background information on the Sterigenics Willowbrook facility, a commercial medical sterilizer that was the source of ethylene oxide emissions linked to cancer cases in nearby Illinois communities, central to EtO litigation.

AI Litigation Note

EPA regulatory on Sep 17 for EtO Sterilization. Regulatory developments can change intake posture and motion practice quickly.

Generated Sep 17, 2026, 3:07 AM UTC

Confidence 85%Published Sep 17, 2026, 3:06 AM UTCSource →

RegulatoryEPA

Detected Jun 22, 2026, 3:11 AM UTC

National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants - Area ...

This article covers EPA National Emissions Standards for hazardous air pollutants from chemical manufacturing area sources, including ethylene oxide emissions regulations that directly govern the sterilizers and plants at the center of EtO cancer litigation.

AI Litigation Note

EPA regulatory on May 20 for EtO Sterilization. Regulatory developments can change intake posture and motion practice quickly.

Generated Jun 22, 2026, 3:11 AM UTC

Confidence 85%Published May 20, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCSource →

No recent court filing signals. Monitoring is active — this section updates automatically.

No recent legislative signals. Monitoring is active — this section updates automatically.

Workbench

LexGenius Ranking

50Score

Activity volume is building across tracked sources

Evidence8 / 20

Momentum20 / 20

Exposure10 / 20

Regulatory12 / 20

Legal10 / 20

Monitoring

Live

monitoring

Last: Sep 30, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

Next: —

Source Monitoring

PACER

1m 59s

PACER

Pending

Google News

1m 59s

PubMed

16m 59s

EPA

4h 17m

Event feed

events detected

Google NewsPubMedEPA

AI Brief

EtO Sterilization remains active litigation category with 30 current signals in the accepted feed.

Overview

Key developments

KRCR news on Sep 28: Major leak of carcinogenic gas becomes flashpoint in national debate over emission rules - KRCR. ‖ EPA News Release regulatory on Sep 22: EPA and DOJ Reach $700000 Settlement with Puerto Rico Sterilizer .... ‖ PubMed research on Sep 8: Use of machine learning to unlock cycle performance and future parametric release of terminally sterilized medical devices at scale using low temperature gaseous hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2): A Review..

Generated Sep 30, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

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Active litigation category30 eventsToxic Exposure

EtO Sterilization

Environmental · claims that ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from commercial medical sterilizers and chemical plants caused cancer (leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer) in nearby residents and workers

Defendant

Sterigenics U.S., LLC

MDL / Track

See litigation status

Judge

Various

Plaintiffs

ACTIVE

Bellwether / Trial

$363M verdict — Kamuda v. Sterigenics (Sept. 2022, Cook County)
$20M compensatory verdict — Walker v. BD (May 2025, Covington, GA)
$50M punitive phase declared mistrial, new punitive trial expected
defense verdict — Isaacks v. Terumo BCT (March 2025, Colorado)

Settlement Status

$408M settlement — 879 Willowbrook cases (Jan. 2023)
79 Smyrna cases settled (2023)
Medline Waukegan settlement reached, amount disputed with insurers
majority of B. Braun PA claims settled (2025)
Steri-Tech $700K EPA/DOJ Clean Air Act settlement (Sept. 2026, Puerto Rico)

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← Torts Case overview Litigation status Geographic exposure Key defendants Timeline Statute of limitations Live activity News PubMed EPA Court filings Legislative

Case overview

Causation Theory

Litigation status

Geographic exposure

Henrico County, Virginia
Sterilization Services of Virginia facility — April 9, 2026 acute release of 580 pounds EtO from faulty check valve; EPA flagged 2022 as 1 of 23 high-risk sterilizers nationally; 260,000+ residents in exposure plume per NOAA HYSPLIT modeling; 71% of affected population Black; ~$50,000-$54,000 DEQ fine; presidential exemption delayed compliance to 2028. No active litigation reported; intake window open with recent acute exposure event.
Vernon/Maywood, California
Sterigenics U.S. facility — ~15 California residents filed Q2 2024 per industry timeline; newly scrutinized site with active intake window; litigation in discovery phase as of 2026. No revival window open.
Franklin, New Jersey
Cosmed Group facility — first wave plaintiffs filed 2023; company filed bankruptcy 2024 amid litigation costs; active pending litigation with open SOL for recent diagnoses.
Lakewood, Colorado
Terumo BCT facility — Isaacks et al. v. Terumo BCT Inc., No. 2022CV031124 (Colo. 1st Jud. Dist. March 2025); defense verdict; ~25 new cases filed during trial; hundreds remain pending.
Covington, Georgia
Becton Dickinson/CR Bard facility — resident claims settled May 2025; Gary Walker v. BD/CR Bard plaintiff verdict May 2025; truck driver exposure claims expanding theory to non-residential plaintiffs. Limited new intake post-settlement.
Allentown, Pennsylvania
B. Braun Medical Inc. facility — Multiple PA Residents v. B. Braun Medical Inc., ongoing; majority of claims settled 2025; additional litigation active per March 2026 timeline.
Smyrna, Georgia
Sterigenics Cobb County facility — 79-plaintiff group settled $35 million Oct. 2023; defense verdicts in Fornek v. Sterigenics and Glass v. B. Braun limit new personal injury intake.
Waukegan, Illinois (Lake County)
Medline/Steris Isomedix facility — settled March 1, 2025; mass tort resolution completed; limited new claims.
Willowbrook, Illinois
Sterigenics facility (closed 2019) — ~900 lawsuits, $408 million settlement Jan. 2023; Kamuda v. Sterigenics, $363 million verdict Sept. 19, 2022 (Cook County); facility closure limits new claims; first wave concluded.
Salinas, Puerto Rico
Steri-Tech facility — EPA 2022 modeling identified most dangerous sterilizer in U.S. and territories; August 2024 air monitoring showed 1,000+ times EPA acceptable risk threshold at residential monitor; 40 micrograms/cubic meter average, translating to 1-in-8 cancer risk; EPA notice of violation and $200,000 fine; company sued EPA; no reported personal injury litigation as of 2026.

Key defendants

Sterigenics U.S., LLC

Role: Sterilization Facility Operator

Sotera Health Co.

Role: Parent Company

B. Braun Medical Inc.

Role: Medical Device Manufacturer

Harcros Chemicals Inc.

Role: Chemical Manufacturer

Medline Industries, Inc.

Role: Medical Supply Distributor

Becton, Dickinson and Co.

Role: Medical Device Manufacturer

Defendant	Role	Intelligence Note
Sterigenics U.S., LLC	Sterilization Facility Operator	Core defendant in Willowbrook litigation. Paid $408M settlement (Jan. 2023) resolving 870+ claims following $363M Kamuda verdict. Facility shuttered 2019; consent decree allowed reopening under stricter controls but litigation exposure remains in other jurisdictions including New Mexico AG action.
Sotera Health Co.	Parent Company	Sterigenics parent. Jointly liable in Willowbrook settlement. Denied facility posed safety risk while settling to avoid protracted litigation. Exposure extends to consolidated state court mass torts in Illinois and pending New Mexico AG action.
B. Braun Medical Inc.	Medical Device Manufacturer	Allentown, Pennsylvania facility litigation. Mixed verdict posture: settled multiple PA resident claims (Feb. 2025) but secured defense verdict in Glass et al. (Dec. 2024). Continued exposure at operational sterilization sites.
Harcros Chemicals Inc.	Chemical Manufacturer	Kansas City, Kansas facility operator. Facing active class action (Jeffries et al., D. Kan. Oct. 2025) alleging multi-decade emissions of EtO and other carcinogens. Successor liability theories target corporate predecessors including Elementis entities.
Medline Industries, Inc.	Medical Supply Distributor	Lake County/Waukegan, Illinois facility co-defendant with Steris Isomedix. Settled resident claims (Mar. 2025). Previously survived 12(b)(6) challenge in Leslie v. Steris Isomedix (N.D. Ill.) but faced revived claims post-Berry.
Becton, Dickinson and Co.	Medical Device Manufacturer	Covington, Georgia facility litigation. Settled resident claims (Oct. 2025). EPA identified BD Nebraska and Utah facilities as potential heightened cancer risk sites; litigation exposure expanding to additional geographic markets.

Timeline

2016
EPA Reassesses EtO Cancer Risk
EPA's Integrated Risk Information System recalculates ethylene oxide inhalation cancer potency using updated methods applied to the NIOSH worker cohort.
2018
NATA Identifies Willowbrook Hotspot
EPA National Air Toxics Assessment identifies census tracts near Sterigenics Willowbrook facility among highest ethylene oxide cancer-risk zones nationally. ATSDR issues public health assessment documenting community exposure.
2019-02
Illinois EPA Seals Sterigenics Willowbrook
Illinois EPA issues seal order halting all sterilization operations at Sterigenics Willowbrook facility. Plant never reopened; Sterigenics announced permanent closure September 2019.
2022-09
$363M Verdict in Kamuda v. Sterigenics
Cook County jury awards Susan Kamuda $363 million ($38 million compensatory, $325 million punitive) against Sterigenics U.S., LLC and Sotera Health for breast cancer linked to Willowbrook emissions. First ethylene oxide plaintiff verdict in U.S. history. Kamuda v. Sterigenics U.S., LLC, Cook County Cir. Ct.
2022-11
Defense Verdict in Fornek v. Sterigenics
Cook County jury returns defense verdict for Sterigenics and Sotera Health in leukemia case brought by Margaret Fornek, same Willowbrook facility. Fornek v. Sterigenics U.S., LLC, Cook County Cir. Ct.
2023-01
$408M Settlement of 879 Willowbrook Claims
Sotera Health announces $408 million settlement resolving 879 ethylene oxide claims against Sterigenics in Cook County Circuit Court and N.D. Ill. Company denies liability.
2023-10
$35M Settlement of 79 Georgia Claims
Sterigenics settles 79 Georgia claims for $35 million through State Court of Gwinnett County. Settlement covers Smyrna-area plaintiffs, requires 100% participation, provides broad releases for private equity investors.
2024-12
Federal Coordination Dissolved; Cases Remanded
Judge Jorge L. Alonso remands coordinated Cook County cases to state court after Medline and Vantage settlements eliminate complete diversity. In re: Ethylene Oxide Coordinated Pretrial Proceedings, Case No. 24 C 7261, N.D. Ill.
2025-03
Defense Verdict in Isaacks v. Terumo BCT
Colorado jury returns defense verdict for Terumo BCT Inc. in ethylene oxide exposure case. Lisa Isaacks et al. v. Terumo BCT Inc., Colo. Dist. Ct.
2025-05
$20M Verdict for Truck Driver in Georgia
Georgia jury awards $20 million compensatory damages to Gary Walker against Becton Dickinson and CR Bard Inc. for ethylene oxide exposure in Covington; $50 million punitive phase declared mistrial, new punitive trial expected. Walker v. Becton Dickinson, Ga. Super. Ct.
2025-07
$34M Additional Willowbrook Settlement
Sterigenics and Sotera Health settle additional 129 Willowbrook claims for $34 million, outside original 879-claim settlement. Additional Willowbrook Claims v. Sterigenics U.S., LLC; Sotera Health, Cook County Cir. Ct.
2026-03
California Cases Advance to 2027 Trials
Los Angeles Superior Court denies Sterigenics and Sotera Health motions for summary judgment, permits California cases to proceed. Trial dates set for January 25 and April 15, 2027. 15 California Residents v. Sterigenics U.S., L.A. County Super. Ct.

Statute of limitations

⚠ 1 state with critical SOL — act immediately

Illinois

2 years from discovery of injury

Rule: 735 ILCS 5/13-202; discovery rule applies for latent disease claims per Kamuda v. Sterigenics U.S., LLC, Cook County Cir. Ct. (2022)

Discovery: Accrues when plaintiff knows or reasonably should know of injury and its causal connection to EtO exposure

Willowbrook/Sterigenics mass tort settled $408M June 2023; new filings focused on Medline (Waukegan) and other active facilities. No revival statute pending.

Georgia

2 years from injury discovery

Rule: O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; discovery rule for toxic exposure claims per Smyrna/Covington Sterigenics litigation

Discovery: Accrues upon diagnosis or when causal link to EtO emissions reasonably discoverable

Smyrna facility closed; Covington (BD) remains operational. Defense verdicts in 2024-2025 noted in industry reporting; SOL still running for newly diagnosed.

Pennsylvania

2 years from discovery

Rule: 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5524(2); discovery rule applies for occupational/environmental disease

Discovery: Accrues when plaintiff knows of injury and its cause

January 2026: Pa. state court declined class certification in EtO litigation per TruLaw update. Individual filings continue. Allentown area facilities active.

Colorado

2 years from discovery of injury

Rule: C.R.S. § 13-80-104(1)(a); discovery rule for toxic torts per Lakewood Sterigenics facility litigation

Discovery: Accrues upon reasonable discovery of injury and causal connection

December 2025: Colorado air regulators advancing April 2026 rulemaking for first state EtO emissions limits. Lakewood facility closed 2019; latency period supports ongoing filings.

California

2 years from discovery

Rule: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1; discovery rule per Jolly v. Eli Lilly & Co., 751 P.2d 923 (1988)

Discovery: Accrues upon discovery of injury and its cause

Q2 2024: ~15 California residents filed v. Sterigenics U.S. per industry timeline. Facilities in Carson, Santa Teresa region. No revival window open.

⚠New Jersey

2 years from discovery

Rule: N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2; discovery rule for toxic torts per Lavelle v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., 824 A.2d 797 (2003)

Discovery: Accrues upon reasonable discovery of injury and its causal connection to EtO exposure

2024: Franklin facility became new litigation target with ~25 lawsuits filed. Emerging intake opportunity with recent diagnosis latency.

State	SOL	Rule	Discovery Rule	Notes
Illinois	2 years from discovery of injury	735 ILCS 5/13-202; discovery rule applies for latent disease claims per Kamuda v. Sterigenics U.S., LLC, Cook County Cir. Ct. (2022)	Accrues when plaintiff knows or reasonably should know of injury and its causal connection to EtO exposure	Willowbrook/Sterigenics mass tort settled $408M June 2023; new filings focused on Medline (Waukegan) and other active facilities. No revival statute pending.
Georgia	2 years from injury discovery	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; discovery rule for toxic exposure claims per Smyrna/Covington Sterigenics litigation	Accrues upon diagnosis or when causal link to EtO emissions reasonably discoverable	Smyrna facility closed; Covington (BD) remains operational. Defense verdicts in 2024-2025 noted in industry reporting; SOL still running for newly diagnosed.
Pennsylvania	2 years from discovery	42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5524(2); discovery rule applies for occupational/environmental disease	Accrues when plaintiff knows of injury and its cause	January 2026: Pa. state court declined class certification in EtO litigation per TruLaw update. Individual filings continue. Allentown area facilities active.
Colorado	2 years from discovery of injury	C.R.S. § 13-80-104(1)(a); discovery rule for toxic torts per Lakewood Sterigenics facility litigation	Accrues upon reasonable discovery of injury and causal connection	December 2025: Colorado air regulators advancing April 2026 rulemaking for first state EtO emissions limits. Lakewood facility closed 2019; latency period supports ongoing filings.
California	2 years from discovery	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1; discovery rule per Jolly v. Eli Lilly & Co., 751 P.2d 923 (1988)	Accrues upon discovery of injury and its cause	Q2 2024: ~15 California residents filed v. Sterigenics U.S. per industry timeline. Facilities in Carson, Santa Teresa region. No revival window open.
⚠New Jersey	2 years from discovery	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2; discovery rule for toxic torts per Lavelle v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., 824 A.2d 797 (2003)	Accrues upon reasonable discovery of injury and its causal connection to EtO exposure	2024: Franklin facility became new litigation target with ~25 lawsuits filed. Emerging intake opportunity with recent diagnosis latency.

Live intelligence

AI litigation brief

EtO Sterilization remains active litigation category with 30 current signals in the accepted feed.

Overview

Key developments

KRCR news on Sep 28: Major leak of carcinogenic gas becomes flashpoint in national debate over emission rules - KRCR
EPA News Release regulatory on Sep 22: EPA and DOJ Reach $700000 Settlement with Puerto Rico Sterilizer ...
PubMed research on Sep 8: Use of machine learning to unlock cycle performance and future parametric release of terminally sterilized medical devices at scale using low temperature gaseous hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2): A Review.

Trajectory

Press and regulatory signals are moving in tandem for EtO Sterilization. The next escalation check is whether these agency actions prompt new PACER filings or MDL scheduling orders.

Editorial intelligence

Editorial coverage should stay tied to source-backed developments and avoid placeholder status copy for EtO Sterilization.

Generated Sep 30, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

30 events detected

Google News (17)

StudyPubMed

Detected Sep 30, 2026, 10:08 AM UTC

Use of machine learning to unlock cycle performance and future parametric release of terminally sterilized medical devices at scale using low temperature gaseous hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2): A Review.

Journal of applied microbiology • Rowan NJ • PMID 42709422 • Journal Article.

Confidence 74%Published Sep 8, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCSource →

StudyPubMed

Detected Sep 30, 2026, 10:08 AM UTC

Regarding ethylene exposure and endogenous ethylene oxide levels in humans (Lin et al., 2025).

Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology • Bus JS • PMID 42701120 • Letter.

Confidence 74%Published Sep 5, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCSource →

StudyPubMed

Detected Sep 30, 2026, 10:08 AM UTC

Chlorine dioxide gas sterilization of cold-chain or temperature-sensitive devices.

PloS one • Livingston K • PMID 42658848 • Journal Article.

Confidence 74%Published Aug 27, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCSource →

StudyPubMed

Detected Sep 30, 2026, 10:08 AM UTC

Using nitric oxide (NO) for gas sterilization at room temperature: A novel sterilization modality.

PloS one • Frost MC • PMID 42627799 • Journal Article.

Confidence 74%Published Aug 21, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCSource →

StudyPubMed

Detected Sep 30, 2026, 10:08 AM UTC

Standardization of color change interpretation for sterilization chemical indicators: A multicenter analysis aligned with international safety color standards.

American journal of infection control • Zheng X • PMID 42607947 • Journal Article.

Confidence 74%Published Aug 17, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCSource →

RegulatoryEPA

Detected Sep 23, 2026, 5:50 AM UTC

EPA and DOJ Reach $700000 Settlement with Puerto Rico Sterilizer ...

AI Litigation Note

EPA News Release regulatory on Sep 22 for EtO Sterilization. Regulatory developments can change intake posture and motion practice quickly.

Generated Sep 23, 2026, 5:50 AM UTC

Confidence 85%Published Sep 22, 2026, 8:49 PM UTCSource →

RegulatoryEPA

Detected Sep 17, 2026, 3:07 AM UTC

Sterigenics Willowbrook Facility - Background Information

AI Litigation Note

EPA regulatory on Sep 17 for EtO Sterilization. Regulatory developments can change intake posture and motion practice quickly.

Generated Sep 17, 2026, 3:07 AM UTC

Confidence 85%Published Sep 17, 2026, 3:06 AM UTCSource →

RegulatoryEPA

Detected Jun 22, 2026, 3:11 AM UTC

National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants - Area ...

AI Litigation Note

EPA regulatory on May 20 for EtO Sterilization. Regulatory developments can change intake posture and motion practice quickly.

Generated Jun 22, 2026, 3:11 AM UTC

Confidence 85%Published May 20, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCSource →

No recent court filing signals. Monitoring is active — this section updates automatically.

No recent legislative signals. Monitoring is active — this section updates automatically.

Workbench

LexGenius Ranking

50Score

Activity volume is building across tracked sources

Evidence8 / 20

Momentum20 / 20

Exposure10 / 20

Regulatory12 / 20

Legal10 / 20

Monitoring

Live

monitoring

Last: Sep 30, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

Next: —

Source Monitoring

PACER

1m 59s

PACER

Pending

Google News

1m 59s

PubMed

16m 59s

EPA

4h 17m

Event feed

events detected

Google NewsPubMedEPA

AI Brief

EtO Sterilization remains active litigation category with 30 current signals in the accepted feed.

Overview

Key developments

Generated Sep 30, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

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