Dad Died From Plutonium Exposure at Los Alamos Lab, Daughter Says

Plutonium released from Los Alamos National Laboratory killed a New Mexico man who was exposed to the radioactive metal as a child, according to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by his daughter in Albuquerque federal court.

The suit, pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, says the University of California, which operates the lab, and Zia Co., a maintenance and construction contractor, are liable for Lowell Ryman's death from cancer at age 63.

According to the complaint, Ryman's father worked at Los Alamos from 1950 to 1953. During that time Ryman allegedly played extensively in the nearby canyons, where he was exposed to radioactive waste, including plutonium.

Los Alamos released the plutonium from 1943 to 1964 while developing and testing nuclear weapons, the complaint says.

Plutonium exposure causes cancer, especially multiple myeloma, which Ryman allegedly developed as an adult before his death in 2005.

His daughter Rene S. Ryman alleges that the Los Alamos facility released and disposed of high amounts of plutonium in several public areas, including the canyons adjacent to the facility.

In addition, she says, her father was exposed to radioactive waste by drinking contaminated water and eating contaminated food.

The defendants allegedly violated federal and state laws, including the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 and the Clean Water Act.

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for Lowell Ryman's death.

The defendants are liable on several grounds, including negligence, gross negligence, negligence per se and engaging in "inherently dangerous activity," according to the complaint.

Michael Howell of Reich & Binstock in Houston, who represents the plaintiff, said in a statement that a report by the Centers for Disease Control suggests that plutonium releases from Los Alamos exceeded the combined releases of the nation's much larger plutonium production facilities in Hanford, Wash.; Savannah River, Ga.; and Rocky Flats, Colo.

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Rene Ryman also is represented by David Jaramillo and Maria Touchet of Gaddy & Jaramillo in Albuquerque.