Beryllium victims are suing Brush Wellman.
Beryllium disease is an incurable, often fatal lung disease.
In April, a nationwide class-action lawsuit was filed against Brush Wellman on behalf of all American workers exposed to beryllium while employed by Brush customers. The lawsuit, which demands medical testing to determine if they have beryllium disease, estimates tens of thousands could be eligible for this testing. The Council believes up to 7,000 contract workers could have been exposed to beryllium at the Brush Wellman facility. Brush Wellman CEO Gordon Harnett has received over 1,400 letters from citizens across Northeast Ohio asking that Brush Wellman pay for medical testing for all current and former Brush workers and contract workers, and that the company pay for independent health study in Elmore and Tucson. Harold Weingard, manager of the Elmore plant, has received over 3,000 letters with the same requests, from citizens across Northwest Ohio.