Court rules that state not required to pay Lead Industry’s court costs

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled to uphold Judge Michael A. Silverstien’s decision on the court cases related to the state of Rhode Island and the Lead Industries Association Inc., stating that Rhode Island was not responsible for paying the association’s court fees, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced Friday.

The state does, however have to pay $242,000 in co-examiner fees. According to the attorney general, the state expects to meet with Motley Rice, the law firm that brought the case on behalf of the state, to resolve the co-examiner fees.

Had the Supreme Court overturned Judge Silverstein’s ruling, the state could have been on the hook for more than $10 million.

“I am pleased that the Supreme Court has upheld the decision of Judge Silverstein that the State is not required to pay litigation costs, which were estimated to be over $10 million, to the defendants,” said Kilmartin in prepared remarks.

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“Exposure to lead paint is a very real problem that has caused long-lasting health issues for many children,” he said. “This case brought the dangers posed by lead paint to the forefront nationally and, as Judge Silverstein and the unanimous Supreme Court found, both the public and the parties substantially benefited from the Attorney General’s commencement of this action.”

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