Agent Orange: An Out-Of-Court Cases
In 1979, on behalf of 2.4 million veterans exposed to Agent Orange during active duty in Vietnam, a class action lawsuit was filed. An in an out-of-court settlement reached an agreement five years later. A settlement of $180 million in compensation was awarded to veterans or their next of kin by seven large chemical companies that manufactured the herbicide. There were various challenges to the settlement that ensued, including lawsuits filed by 300 veterans, before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1988. The settlement award had risen to $240 million including interest.