DENVER (AP) - A uranium processing company has been ordered to pay $16.3 million to 32 people who suffered radiation poisoning and other health problems while living near its mill. 

A jury reached the decision Thursday against the Cotter Corp. Three plaintiffs have died since the lawsuit was filed 10 years ago. 

"I'm elated. Finally, the Cotter Corporation is being held accountable,'' said Joe Dodge, 67, whose wife, Thelma, died of radiation-induced leukemia. Dodge, the original plaintiff in the lawsuit, owned a ranch next to the mill outside Canon City, 115 miles south of Denver. 

"This is justice for the death of our mother,'' his daughter Rhonda Butson said. "Cotter has been terrible. They still don't think they've done anything wrong.'' 

The lawyer for Denver-based Cotter said the company would appeal. 

"They will never see this money,'' John Watson said. "We feel completely confident that the 10th Circuit (Court of Appeals) will overturn this verdict.'' 

This is the fourth trial involving pollution claims against the Cotter Mill, which produced uranium fuel for nuclear power plants around the world for almost 30 years. It was declared a Superfund site in 1984 and closed three years later. 

Thirteen plaintiffs won a multi-million dollar lawsuit in 1998, but it was overturned on appeal and retried as part of this case. Another case in 1992 was settled and a case in 2000 is being appealed. 

The mill ground uranium into a powder and formed it into "yellowcake'' biscuits for shipment. Testimony during the seven-week trial showed the fine radioactive dust drifted across Dodge's horse farm, clotheslines, houses and into the soil and water. 

The mill also handled heavy metals such as arsenic, cobalt, nickel and lead. 

"People lost everything,'' said attorney Suzelle Smith. "Joe Dodge lost his wife and his horses. He lost his farm. People lost vegetables. They had birth defects, disfigurements.'' 

Sonja and Don Luna's son Brett, 28, was born with a cleft palate, respiratory problems and mental retardation. 

"I thought my heart was going to burst when they announced the verdicts,'' said Don Luna. "This is for Brett. We won't be around forever to care for him. He will have to have help all his life. He doesn't deserve what he has.'' 

"I cried for two days,'' said juror Sandy Todd. "We just tried to do the right thing.'' 

AP-NY-06-29-01 1355EDT 

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