Chicago teen awarded $16.5 million for lead poisoning that caused his disability

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

A Chicago teen with severe mental retardation caused by lead poisoning from a CHA apartment was awarded $16.5 million Sept. 2 by a Cook County jury.

The exposure to peeling lead paint occurred while Donald Howell's mother, LaTanya Turks, was pregnant with Donald and living at the CHA's Robert Brooks Homes, said one of his attorneys, Lynne Duffey. His other attorney, Howard Schaffner, said Howell's IQ is 18.

"He can't really do anything,'' he said. "He can't follow a two-step instruction, he can't dress himself. He requires 24-hour-a-day attention."

The flaking and peeling paint caused Howell, 17, to be born with a brain that was too small, leading to his retardation, Schaffner said.