Toxic uniforms cause severe illness for flight attendants. $18.6M. Alameda County.

Summary

This trial was the second bellwether trial on behalf of five current and former American Airlines employees who suffered serious health issues after wearing toxic uniforms. There are over 400 additional plaintiffs awaiting trial.

The Case

Case Name: Poole v. Twin Hill Acquisition Co., et al.
Court and Case Number: Alameda County Superior Court / RG17876798
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, June 12, 2025
Date Action was Filed: Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Type of Case: Highlighted Verdicts, Products Liability
Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Somnath Raj Chatterjee
Type of Result: Jury Verdict

The Result

Gross Verdict or Award: $18,600,000
Net Verdict or Award: $16,932,549
Contributory/Comparative Negligence: Twin Hill 90% at fault; and American Airlines (non-defendant) 10%.

The Attorneys

Attorney for the Plaintiff:
Balaban Spielberger LLP by Daniel Balaban, Andrew Spielberger, and Vanessa Loftus-Brewer, Los Angeles.

Kabateck LLP by Anastasia Mazzella, Brian Kabateck and Sheri Lalehzarian, Los Angeles.
Attorney for the Defendant:
Lewis Brisbois by Robert Good, Chicago, IL.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP by Sabrina Gallo, Miami, FL.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP by Richard Tabura, Los Angeles.

The Experts

Plaintiff's Medical Expert(s):
Pamela Mahoney, Ph.D., epidemiology.

Ben Hoffman, M.D., environmental medicine.

Richard DeGrandchamp, Ph.D., toxicology.
Defendant's Medical Expert(s):
Marion Fedoruk, M.D., toxicology and environmental medicine.
Plaintiff's Technical Expert(s):
David Brookstein, Ph.D., textile engineering.

Tim Lanning, economics.
Defendant's Technical Expert(s):
Abigail Oelker, Ph.D., textile engineering.

John Fesselr, Ph.D., HVAC.

Elaine Clark, manufacturing standard of care.

Eric Volk, economics.

Facts and Background

Facts and Background:
This trial was the second bellwether trial on behalf of five current and former American Airlines employees who suffered serious health issues after wearing toxic uniforms. The first symptoms experienced by plaintiffs began approximately one year before the first lawsuits were filed.

There are over 400 additional plaintiffs awaiting trial.

The jury found Twin Hill 90% at fault and American Airlines 10% – though the airline was not a defendant at trial – for exposing workers to dangerous levels of formaldehyde.
Plaintiff's Contentions:
Five flight attendants fell seriously ill after wearing uniforms manufactured by Defendant Twin Hill, which were later found to contain formaldehyde. Plaintiffs alleged that roughly 150,000 uniforms distributed to American Airlines staff triggered widespread health issues, including skin rashes, hives, respiratory problems, headaches, and throat irritation. Some employees reported developing long-term chemical sensitivities.

Plaintiffs' lawsuit claimed the uniforms were dangerously defective and posed an unreasonable risk to those who wore or were exposed to them. The plaintiffs also argued that Twin Hill failed to meet industry standards.

Independent testing detected formaldehyde, which is known to cause dermatological, respiratory, neurological, and immunological harm. Plaintiffs reported symptoms ranging from eye styes and fatigue to rashes and reactive airway disease.
Defendant's Contentions:
The defense denied the uniforms were defective or harmful.

They also alleged their product met industry standards and there were alternative causes for plaintiffs injuries.

Injuries and Other Damages

Physical Injuries claimed by Plaintiff:
Varying degrees of contact dermatitis, asthma and headaches.