"Ford Settles N.J. Toxic Waste Lawsuit"

"NEWARK, N.J. -- The Ford Motor Co. has settled a lawsuit filed by residents of a northern New Jersey town over toxic waste dumped there nearly 40 years ago.

The settlement was announced in state Superior Court on Thursday. Details were not released, but the Record of Bergen County reported that residents of Ringwood, about 25 miles northeast of New York City, will receive about $10 million.

Under terms of the settlement, Ford and two other defendants, URS Corp. and Arrow Group Industries, admitted no liability for the residents’ claims of health problems caused by the waste.

Speaking on behalf of all three defendants, attorney Alan Kraus said, 'Plaintiffs alleged, among other things, that they had been injured by exposure to toxic chemicals at the Ringwood landfill site. After more than three years of litigation, the parties have entered into a settlement that will resolve all the claims in the litigation."

David Porter reports for the Associated Press September 4, 2009.