Hazardous Advanced Micro Devices ('A.M.D.') 'Clean Room' Chemicals Allegedly Caused Multiple Birth Defects

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 21 Nov 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Advanced Micro Devices ("A.M.D.") and a regional medical association that claims to treat 15 percent of Austin-area residents are responsible for multiple birth defects in an Austin youth born with a missing lower right arm and lifelong cognitive deficits, according to a lawsuit filed in Travis County District Court. The youth's mother, a former A.M.D. "clean room" employee, was wrongfully exposed to birth defect-causing hazardous chemicals during her pregnancy. A.M.D. knowingly failed to protect its workers from industrial chemical exposure , according to the Petition. The Petition also includes medical malpractice allegations against a family/occupational health practitioner and an OBGYN specialist at Austin Regional Clinic, P.A. ("A.R.C."), an A.M.D. contractor. MDs, George Marking and Alinda Cox allegedly failed to warn the pregnant woman of the recognized dangers posed by exposure to teratogen chemicals during pregnancy, according to the lawsuit. Austin resident Maria Ruiz, an A.M.D. employee who worked in the technology company's "Fab 14" clean room from 1988 to 2002, was exposed to a host of toxic teratogen chemicals, including ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate and 2-ethoxyethyl acetate which caused the multiple birth defects in her son, Ryan. On at least two occasions during her employment, Ruiz required medical care due to inhaling chemical fumes, the lawsuit states.

In 1991, after an A.M.D.-required physical exam conducted by A.R.C., the manufacturer's occupational health contractor, Ruiz discovered she was pregnant. According to the lawsuit, Dr. Marking, who made the pregnancy diagnosis, and Dr. Cox, who treated her, failed to warn Ruiz of the dangers from industrial chemical exposure and pregnancy. Ruiz inquired about the health risks from working in the clean room during her pregnancy, but A.M.D. responded by returning her to Fab 14, according to the lawsuit. Ryan Ruiz suffered multiple birth defects, including a missing right arm below his elbow, brain injury and cognitive deficits. "He has suffered and will continue to suffer significant developmental impairments requiring special education needs," and "will continue to suffer great mental pain and anguish, disfigurement and physical impairment, and has and will incur costs, including medical and special education expenses," the Petition states. A.M.D., A.R.C., and Drs. Marking and Cox negligently exposed Maria and Ryan Ruiz to "an abnormally dangerous and ultra-hazardous activity," according to the lawsuit. The defendants also "failed to warn or advise Mrs. Ruiz of the dangers of A.M.D.'s premises and the chemicals it used," it is alleged. "Maria Ruiz worked with hazardous chemicals that caused her son's devastating multiple birth defects," said Adam S. Ward, Esq., a partner in Allison & Ward, L.L.P.

"Like millions of Americans, Maria Ruiz did not realize that 'clean rooms' are designed to keep damaging dust particles from semiconductor wafers during manufacturing, not to protect men and women exposed to a spectrum of hazardous teratogen chemicals and fumes," said Steven J. Phillips, Esq., of New York's Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP, co-counsel in the case. Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP represented plaintiffs in similar litigation against IBM where workers, also employed in "clean rooms," gave birth to children with severe multiple birth defects. Those cases were settled before reaching trial.

The five-count Petition charges negligence, breach of warranty, fraud and fraudulent concealment and misrepresentation, Exemplary damages also are sought in the suit, according to David C. Strouss, Esq., of Boston, Massachusetts-based Thornton & Naumes, LLP, also co-counsel in the case. Ryan Ruiz, who turned 16 on October 31st, is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Austin-area television viewers recently have been seeing commercials seeking persons with knowledge of the clean rooms and semiconductor wafer manufacturing at A.M.D. in Austin to contact Allison & Ward, L.L.P., as part of the pre-discovery process as the case moves through the court system.

About Levy, Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP

The law firm of Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP offers experienced representation for the victims of industrial chemical exposure and multiple birth defects.

http://www.lpklaw.com