Paint Companies Owe Oakland More Than $100 Million Over Lead

"Oakland is one of several California cities still waiting on more than $1 billion to pay for the removal of lead paint, which is threatening children’s health in neighborhoods such as Fruitvale. Even though a judge ruled in favor of Oakland more than two years ago, the money remains tied up in in the courts.

Oakland’s struggle to get its hands on this judgment was magnified by a recent Reuters report, which cited Fruitvale as one of 3,000 U.S. communities with lead contamination worse than Flint, Michigan.

In 2014 — and after 13 years of litigation — Santa Clara Superior Court Judge James Kleinberg ordered paint-manufacturers Sherwin-Williams, ConAgra, and NL Industries to pay Oakland $104 million. This is the city’s share of the $1.15 billion judgment after a judge ruled that the companies promoted the use of lead paint in homes."

Beth Winegarner reports for the East Bay Express January 31, 2017.