Terminix and its counterpart in the U.S. Virgin Islands will pay $10 million for the illegal indoor use of the pesticide methyl bromide, which sickened a Delaware family on vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands in March 2015.
Steve Esmond, his wife, Dr. Theresa Divine and their two sons fell ill after a Terminix worker sprayed the condo underneath the one where they were staying. While USA Today reported that an update on their condition was not immediately available on Tuesday, earlier reports said members of the family were paralyzed for months.
The EPA banned methyl bromide for indoor use in 1984, as it is known to cause neurological damage. Terminix’s plea agreement includes $8 million in fines, $1 million to fund a community service project and $1 million in restitution to the EPA. The company will likely also face civil proceedings with the family.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Breaking Down the 2024 Election Calendar
- How Nayib Bukele’s ‘Iron Fist’ Has Transformed El Salvador
- What if Ultra-Processed Foods Aren’t as Bad as You Think?
- How Ukraine Beat Russia in the Battle of the Black Sea
- Long COVID Looks Different in Kids
- How Project 2025 Would Jeopardize Americans’ Health
- What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits
- The 32 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024
Contact us at letters@time.com