Court Denies KBR’s Bid for New Trial on National Guardsmen’s Toxic Exposure Claims

PORTLAND, Ore. — A federal court has denied Kellogg, Brown & Root Services Inc.’s (NYSE: KBR) motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or a new trial on chemical exposure claims brought by Oregon national guardsman.

However, Magistrate Judge Paul Papak did rule in an April 26 Opinion and Order that Kellogg and KBR Technical Services Inc. are entitled to a remittitur of $4.2 million of the $85 million verdict owing to Oregon’s statutory cap on noneconomic damages.

The order, thus, reduces the noneconomic damages awarded to each of 12 trial plaintiffs from $850,000 to $500,000, but doesn’t affect individual …