PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled Friday that the state of Rhode Island is not responsible for the money lead paint companies paid to defend themselves in a landmark lawsuit.
In upholding Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein's decision, the high court ruled that Rhode Island does not have to reimburse the companies for litigation costs estimated to be more than $10 million, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin said in a press release.
"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," Kilmartin wrote.
The case began in 1999 and initially ended in mistrial. The state won the case when it was tried again, only to see it overturned in 2008.