No AGENT ORANGE settlement 1984

(another legal-related POD) In May 1984, to forestall torts claims and deny civil liability by VW vets and their families for medical defects and diseases allegedly caused by exposure to Agent Orange while serving in VN, the 7 chemical cos. being taken to court agreed to a $180 m settlement with the approx. 200,000 vets, from the US and Australia, involved in the class action (IN RE AGENT ORANGE). This settlement was agreed by the lawyers for both sides on the grounds that none of the cos. admitted any liability, and that further causes of action on the grounds of exposure to Agent Orange couldn't be brought. Many vets were very dissatisfied with this settlement, based on their being unable to tell their side of the story and make the cos. accountable for their negligence, and also with the uncertainty as to how this settlement $ would be distributed. But WI these claimants had been able to take the chemical manufacturers to court, and the majority refused to accept the settlement and wished to prove liability against the cos. for their medical conditions ? What would've been the outcome of the Agent Orange litigation ?
 
If the agent orange class action went to trial, its likely the vets would have lost. The evidence tying agent orange to cancer is extremely weak.

For an interesting account of agent orange, read BG Burkett's "Stolen Valor". It appears many of the studies connecting the chemical to ailments are poorly thought out. Also consider this factoid. The pilots and aircrew that sprayed the stuff have the same incidence of cancer as the general population. Not only did these guys practically swim in agent orange, they were required to drink a coffee cup full of the stuff as an initiation rite! Food for thought.........
 
Anthony Appleyard said:
Agent Orange :: was he a member of Spectrum in the Gerry Anderson series `Captain Scarlet'? :) :)

Umm...no. Agent Orange was a herbicide used during the Vietnam War, which was intended to deprive the Viet Cong of food and jungle cover by destroying foliage.
 
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