According to an article originally posted on OregonLive, a customer who says he was sitting at an outdoor table at an Oregon Starbucks when a landscape worker sprayed him with pesticides, filed a $55,000 lawsuit last week. The commercial landscaping and maintenance company being sued is the Brickman Group.
Dennis Delano claims that he was sprayed with what he says was a toxic mix of insect and weed killer, while he was at a Starbucks on July 18, 2013. According to the lawsuit, the worker was wearing a backpack sprayer to douse "the landscaped ornamental grounds" with what may have been AgriStar Crossroad and glyphosate herbicides.
The lawsuit claims that the worker wasn't licensed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture to spray pesticides and herbicides outside of the Starbucks, nor did the company's Vancouver location have a commercial pesticide operator's license to spray there.
Delano suffered "severe coughing, insomnia, labored breathing, and exhaustion," according to the suit. The suit claims that Delano's injuries might be permanent.
Delano seeks $15,000 to cover medical bills, plus $40,000 for pain, discomfort and interference with his abilities to carry out the normal activities of life. Delano also seeks an undetermined amount in lost earning capacity. He reserves the right to seek an undisclosed amount of punitive damages for alleged "willful, wanton and reckless conduct."
