IBM offers $10,000 to owners of contaminated houses

No_Style · Sep 3, 2004, 07:54 PM

IBM announced Thursday that it was willing to pay $10,000 each to the owners of nearly 500 contaminated homes in the upstate village of Endicott if the owners give up their right to sue for property damages caused by industrial pollution.

Residents have complained that ventilation systems IBM has installed in their homes since 2002 to prevent toxic vapors from building up in the basements have hurt property values. Last year, they asked Attorney General Eliot Spitzer for help in protecting home values.

Spitzer's office negotiated with IBM for a year to develop the payment program, which is modeled after a similar effort in Rochester. Endicott officials think the payments will help revive the village, compensate homeowners for lost real estate values and allow residents to improve their homes, creating spillover economic benefits. Homeowners would not be required to use the money for home improvements.

The owners of the 480 houses and a handful of commercial properties that were offered the ventilation systems are eligible to receive payments. Owners would give up the right to sue for property damages but would still be able to sue for personal injury.
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Read More/Source: C|Net Tech News

The_Neon_Cowboy · Sep 3, 2004, 08:01 PM

yea, becouse if they sue thier likely to get like 10X that

LeanWolf · Sep 3, 2004, 08:30 PM

ibm does ventilation?

El Kapitano · Sep 3, 2004, 10:33 PM

No they had to install the units to clear out vapour contamination in the basements of these houses caused by groundwater contaminated with organic solvents the company was using as degreaser.

No_Style · Sep 3, 2004, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeanWolf

ibm does ventilation?

PC business was getting too crowded. They were expanding the types of services they were providing.

J/K

BWX · Sep 4, 2004, 01:20 PM

Hmm, I grew up about 40 miles away from there- Never heard of the story until now.

Sep 3, 2004, 07:54 PM	#1
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	IBM offers $10,000 to owners of contaminated houses IBM announced Thursday that it was willing to pay $10,000 each to the owners of nearly 500 contaminated homes in the upstate village of Endicott if the owners give up their right to sue for property damages caused by industrial pollution. Residents have complained that ventilation systems IBM has installed in their homes since 2002 to prevent toxic vapors from building up in the basements have hurt property values. Last year, they asked Attorney General Eliot Spitzer for help in protecting home values. Spitzer's office negotiated with IBM for a year to develop the payment program, which is modeled after a similar effort in Rochester. Endicott officials think the payments will help revive the village, compensate homeowners for lost real estate values and allow residents to improve their homes, creating spillover economic benefits. Homeowners would not be required to use the money for home improvements. The owners of the 480 houses and a handful of commercial properties that were offered the ventilation systems are eligible to receive payments. Owners would give up the right to sue for property damages but would still be able to sue for personal injury. _______________ Read More/Source: C\|Net Tech News __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here

Sep 3, 2004, 08:01 PM	#2
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	yea, becouse if they sue thier likely to get like 10X that __________________

Sep 3, 2004, 08:30 PM	#3
LeanWolf alpha male Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Skyrim Posts: 5,713 Rep Power: 84 System Specs	ibm does ventilation? __________________

Sep 4, 2004, 01:20 PM	#6
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	Hmm, I grew up about 40 miles away from there- Never heard of the story until now. __________________

Sep 3, 2004, 10:33 PM	#4
El Kapitano Most of the 7 dwarfs in 1 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rochdale, Lancashire Posts: 947 Rep Power: 0	No they had to install the units to clear out vapour contamination in the basements of these houses caused by groundwater contaminated with organic solvents the company was using as degreaser.