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The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »

KBR

Exposure to Sodium Dichromate at Iraqi Water Treatment Plant (Oregon National Guard Suit)

Date: 06/08/2009 (Date of Filing)

Misconduct Type: Health

Enforcement Agency: Non-Governmental

Contracting Party: Defense - Army

Court Type: Civil

Amount: $81,000,000

Disposition: Judgment Against Defendant

Synopsis: Members of the Oregon Army National Guard sued KBR alleging health problems caused by exposure to sodium dichromate/hexavalent chromium at the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant in southern Iraq in 2003. KBR was in charge of restoring the plant; the National Guardsmen were assigned to protect the civilian workers at the plant. In November 2012, a federal jury found KBR negligent and awarded each of 12 plaintiffs $850,000 in non-economic damages (e.g. pain and suffering) and $6,250,000 in punitive damages, for a total amount of $85.2 million. The court subsequently reduced the non-economic damages award to $500,000.