Historic lead paint case ends in Monterey County

Monterey County is calling the settlement of a nearly 2 decades old lead paint case a major victory for thousands of California children who have been poisoned by lead paint.

This week, the US Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by lead paint manufacturers which essentially ended the case.

Monterey County was part of the lawsuit that included ten cities and other counties in the state.

Monterey County official Charles McKee responded to the settlement saying, “Sherwin Williams and its co-defendants knew their product was toxic, yet still sold it to families. After almost two decades of litigation, they will finally be held responsible.”

Monterey County will receive about $6 million from the settlement. That money will go towards lead paint testing and abatement in homes built before 1951.