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Man claiming exposure to toxic materials settles suit
The federal court has approved a settlement agreement in a lawsuit filed by a heavy equipment operator who is now medically disabled after allegedly being exposed to toxic materials at the Marpi landfill.
Vijaya Raghavan Sridharan agreed to settle his lawsuit with Pacific Drilling Ltd., PDL president Rama Medabalmi, and PDL chief engineer Maheshi Balakrishnan.
PDL is Sridharan’s former employer.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona approved the settlement agreement on Monday after finding it in the best interests of Sridharan and his wife, Kanchana.
The parties kept the settlement amount confidential.
With the settlement, Manglona dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, which means the plaintiff can no longer refile the case.
Attorney Michael W. Dotts, counsel for the Sridharan couple, and attorney Thomas E. Clifford, counsel for PDL, Medabalmi and Balakrishnan, informed the court of their settlement and asked it to dismiss the case.
According to Dotts and Clifford, the settlement agreement covers all claims that have been brought, including a related workers compensation claim pending before the CNMI Workers Compensation Commission.
Sridharan has now returned to India. His wife would also like to return to India as soon as possible. Neither plans to return to Saipan.
Dotts and Clifford said this further justifies the settlement.
According to the complaint, Sridharan began working for PDL in 1997 as a heavy equipment operator. He stopped working for PDL in April 2010 as he can no longer work due to health problems.
Dotts and co-counsel Ramon Quichocho alleged that Sridharan’s health problems began during the latter part of 2008, after he was assigned to the Marpi landfill where he was apparently left without proper and adequate safety gear or supervision.
Sridharan’s problems were allegedly the result of being exposed to and breathing in air that contained lead and other toxins.
