18 Rhode Island Children Receive Lead Paint Settlement

Lawyers say 18 youths in RHode Island who were affected by lead poisoning will receive compensation from their former landlords as part of a recent court settlement.

Motley Rice, the law firm representing the children and their parents, says the compensation has been awarded as part of a settlement that was under negotiation for the past year.

Vincent Greene, a lawyer for the firm, tells The Times of Pawtucket that the children suffered health problems, which affected their behavior, speech, concentration, memory and motor functions. All of them experienced lead poisoning while living in homes in Providence, Pawtucket, Cranston and Woonsocket contaminated by deteriorating lead paint before age 6.

The children currently range in age from 9 to 17.