
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 12, 1994                   TAG: 9405120183
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: MIAMI                                 LENGTH: Short

DUPONT SETTLES 4 OF 5 PESTICIDE SUITS

Four of five growers who sued DuPont for $32.7 million over a fungicide settled with the chemical giant hours before a jury ruled against them Wednesday. The fifth grower, who sought $6.5 million, didn't get a dime.

DuPont Co. also settled 55 other Florida cases Tuesday. To date, the company has paid more than $700 million to growers who claim Benlate DF destroyed or damaged their plants. The five Florida growers also claimed the company tried to cover up the chemical's destructive potential.

The lone holdout in the six-month trial was Dale Smith, who grew oaks, bougainvillea and palms at his 21-acre nursery in Homestead. He left the courtroom immediately after the verdicts and did not return calls.

The four growers who settled did not disclose the amount of their settlements as a condition of the agreements. Grower Maria Costa Smith said the settlement would cover her losses.

- Associated Press

by CNB