What is the Agent Orange Class Action Lawsuit?
In re “Agent Orange” Product Liability Litigation, Vietnam veterans and their families brought a class action lawsuit against seven chemical manufacturing companies for injuries the veterans and their families that may have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides used in Vietnam. On May 7, 1984, a tentative out-of-court settlement was announced. Under the terms of the settlement the chemical companies agreed to pay $180 million, reportedly the largest settlement of its kind at that time. From 1988 to 1994, following various appeals, the Settlement Fund distributed a total of $197 million in cash to approximately 52,000 totally disabled Vietnam veterans or their survivors. On September 27, 1997, the District Court ordered the Fund closed, its assets having been fully distributed.
