Motorola is facing a four-count lawsuit filed by a group of former employees who claim the toxic substances used to manufacture Motorola products caused serious birth defects in their children. The lawsuit was filed in the Cook County Circuit Court by seventy-one plaintiffs who claim negligence, abnormally dangerous and ultrahazardous activity, willful and wanton conduct and loss of consortium against Motorola according to the Chicago Sun Times.

According to the plaintiffs at least 30 children born to workers who were employed by Motorola since the 1960s have birth defects.  These defects include physical and developmental disabilities; cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, sterility and brain malformations. Also, many of the affected children suffer from physical or skeletal deformities and two children were born with a missing ear.

The lawsuit claims that Motorola “knew or should have known about the potential hazards, citing a 1986 study by IBM and John Hopkins University showing workplace exposure to the chemicals, solvents, metals and other compounds could cause serious reproductive harm.”  The lawsuit also states that Motorola was aware that the chemicals they used to make the semiconductors and computer chips in sterile “clean rooms” are toxic and could result in birth defects of children born to people who have came into contact with the chemicals.  According to the plaintiffs protective gear was not provided by Motorola to its employees in the “clean rooms.”

Motorola officials were not available for comment.