P.M. BRIEFING : Son Born Retarded, Jim Beam Sued
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SEATTLE — A woman who says drinking during pregnancy caused birth defects in her son is suing the maker of Jim Beam bourbon for not putting warning labels on its bottles.
Jury selection in the lawsuit filed by Candace and Harold Thorp began today in federal court.
The couple’s 4-year-old son, Michael, was born mentally retarded, neurologically impaired and developmentally stunted, with facial and other body malformations, according to the lawsuit. The Thorps sued the James B. Beam Distillery Co. of Deerfield, Ill., claiming it should have provided labels warning that alcohol could cause birth defects.
Thorp said in court documents she drank up to a half a fifth per day of Jim Beam bourbon while she was pregnant and didn’t know her drinking would damage her child.
The company asserted in court papers that Washington state law governing product liability does not require manufacturers to issue warnings of risks that are considered “generally known” by the community.
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