$6,000,000 Settlement

Our client was a child who was living in an apartment in the Bronx. He was under two years of age when he was observed by his mother to have paint chips in his mouth. His mother was unaware of the dangers of lead paint at the time. She was also unaware that the apartment had lead paint on the interior walls, window frames and radiators.

At one of the child’s regular doctor visits, a routine blood test was performed. The results showed that the child had high levels of lead in his blood. This triggered an investigation by the New York City Department of Health. It was determined that there was in fact lead paint on the interior surfaces of the apartment.

The child was diagnosed as lead-poisoned. Within a short period of time thereafter, he was also diagnosed with autism.

Mr. Finz, the senior partner of Finz & Finz, P.C., together with Todd Rubin, a senior associate at the firm, conducted a world literature search and retained leading experts in the fields of lead paint exposure and autism in order to draw the connection between lead paint exposure and autism.

Although the lawyers for the defendant landlord took the position that lead paint exposure does not cause autism, Mr. Finz pressed on. Analyzing hundreds of medical articles published in scientific journals, he, together with his staff were able to isolate those articles that drew a connection between lead paint exposure and autism. Armed with the world literature (some of which was in dispute), he sought out and retained leading experts in the fields of lead paint exposure and autism in order to establish the connection between the two.

On the eve of trial the case settled for $6,000,000.00 providing financial security for the child.