WASHINGTON-U.S. District Judge Catherine Blake approved a request to drop a brain-cancer lawsuit filed by Atlanta’s Brian Barrett against Nokia Corp. and others. Barrett, who died in November 2002, alleged mobile-phone use caused his brain tumor.
Barrett is the second plaintiff among the nine with cancer lawsuits pending before Blake in Baltimore federal court to withdraw health litigation.
In 2002, Blake threw out an $800 million cancer lawsuit against wireless companies. A U.S. appeals court in Richmond, Va., last year affirmed Blake’s decision. The same court will hear oral argument next month in a separate challenge to another Blake ruling that rejected five class-action lawsuits. The suits sought to force wireless carriers to supply consumers with hands-free devices to reduce any health risks from phone radiation. The outcome of the headset appeal, which turns on jurisdiction, could determine whether remaining brain-cancer lawsuits stay in Blake’s court or return to various state courts.
Government health officials here and overseas say research does not point to dangers from mobile phones, but add they cannot guarantee safety of wireless handsets until further research is conducted.
