Terminix fined $9.2 million for use of pesticide that poisoned Delaware family
Terminix will pay $9.2 million in criminal fines tied to the company's use of a banned pesticide that nearly killed a Delaware family vacationing in the Caribbean in March 2015, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
The company was sentenced Monday, two years after the Esmond family fell ill. Federal prosecutors said Terminix admitted to using a pesticide called methyl bromide at 14 locations including at the Sirenusa condominium resort in St. John where the Esmonds were vacationing.
An entire family suffered horrendous and life-altering injuries. We will continue to aggressively enforce environmental laws to help prevent something like this from ever happening again, said Attorney Joycelyn Hewlett for the District of the Virgin Islands in a news release.
The pesticide, which is odorless and can severely damage the central nervous and respiratory systems, has been banned for indoor use by the Environmental Protection Agency since 1984.
Read more: http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2017/11/21/terminix-fined-9-2-million-use-pesticide-poisoned-delaware-family/884758001/