Wisconsin teenager sues paint companies

MILWAUKEE, July 16 (UPI) -- The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled a Milwaukee teenager suffering from lead poisoning may take his case against several paint companies to trial.

In a 4-2 vote Friday, the court ruled 15-year-old Steven Thomas pursue his case against several paint manufacturers even though he doesn't know which specific company is responsible for his injuries.

The court citied a Wisconsin statute that says people who cannot determine exactly which company caused their injuries may sue a variety of companies under certain circumstances.

Attorneys for both sides agreed the ruling was the first of its kind in any state or federal court.

According to his legal action, Thomas suffers from mild mental retardation as the result of ingesting lead paint chips and dust in three Milwaukee rental properties as a toddler.

The suit alleges the defendants, including the Sherwin-Williams Co. and the American Cyanamid Co., manufactured a paint component called white lead carbonate. Experts retained by Thomas say that component was the one most likely to have injured him.

Each of the rental houses had several layers of lead paint.