(CN) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected bids by paint companies to avoid liability over lead paint abatement in California.
The combined cases are Sherwin-Williams Co. v. California and Conagra Grocery Products, et al, v. California. Lower courts ruled the companies knowingly endangered the public by selling lead paint.
In both cases, the defendants asked the high court to consider whether California's decision to impose retroactive "public nuisance" liability against them for promoting and selling their nearly century-old products in the state violated their due process and First Amendment rights.
The Sherwin-Williams case further asked the justices to resolve what it said was a conflict between Supreme Court precedent and a recent Third Circuit ruling.
As is their custom, the justices did not explain their rationale for rejecting the case.
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