IBM settles birth defects action

Two former IBM workers who alleged that exposure to toxic fumes caused their son's birth defects have settled their lawsuit.

Michael Ruffing and Faye Calton sued IBM in 1997 over the birth defects suffered by their son, who is now 15. He was born blind and with facial deformities that prevented him from breathing normally.

Terms of the settlement are confidential. IBM said in a statement it believed it had no liability in the case.

The company added: "The vast majority of civil cases in America terminate without a trial and that is particularly true as regards cases involving novel and complex issues of law, science and fact".

The couple had contended the defects were caused by their exposure to fumes at an IBM computer chip manufacturing plant in East Fishkill, New York.

The case is the first of more than 200 scheduled to go to court. The settlement could mean that the other cases will also be settled out of court.

Similar defects were found in the children of other employees at the Fishkill plant, as well as in other plants in Vermont and California.