Chemical Week, "BOC Shares Fall After Adverse Court Ruling"

          Shares in BOC Group fell more than 7% last Wednesday to 821.5 pence/share ($ 13.92) after the company lost a suit charging that fumes from welding rods caused Parkinson's disease. A jury in Madison County, IL awarded a $ 1-million judgment to a former welder who claimed he developed Parkinson's-like symptoms from working around fumes from manganese-based welding rods. Manganese has been linked to Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder that affects movement.
          BOC says that the claims result from its 1978 acquisition of Airco, which supplies welding rods. BOC's co-defendants were Hobart Brothers (Troy, OH) and Lincoln Electric (Cleveland, OH), which also supply welding rods. BOC says that previous tort claims in this area have been "successfully defended or otherwise resolved on terms favorable to the company." The company says that costs for defending or resolving the case "have not been material" to date. BOC says it is confident that it will prevail on appeal to Illinois state supreme court.