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By: Jordan Baker
Reclusive billionaire Ira Rennert, the owner of the largest estate in the Hamptons, is poised to face legal scrutiny over claims of lead poisoning linked to a Peruvian mine. According to the New York Post, this legal battle has been ongoing for nearly two decades as Rennert has repeatedly sought to have the case dismissed.
Rennert, 90, is known in New York for his sprawling oceanfront estate in Sagaponack, dubbed “The House That Ate the Hamptons” by Page Six founder James Brady. The compound, situated on 63 acres of prime Atlantic coastline, includes a 110,000-square-foot mansion with 29 bedrooms, 39 bathrooms, a 100-car garage, and a host of other luxury amenities. The property, valued at $425 million, serves as a stark contrast to the impoverished Peruvian community at the center of the lawsuit.
The legal case dates back to 2007, when a group of Peruvian children, represented by two nuns from The Saint Louis College for Public Health and Social Justice, filed a lawsuit against Doe Run Resources, a company owned by Rennert’s Renco Group. The children claim to have suffered severe health issues, including developmental delays and chronic illnesses, due to lead exposure from the La Oroya Metallurgical Complex, a mining facility previously operated by Doe Run.
The NY Post reports that despite Doe Run’s closure of the mine in 2009, the allegations center on the company’s failure to meet environmental remediation requirements set by the Peruvian government. According to the lawsuit, 99% of children living near the mine had dangerous levels of lead in their blood, with some of the highest readings ever recorded globally.
Rennert and his legal team have argued that the case should be heard in Peru rather than the United States, a stance backed by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. However, a Missouri federal judge ruled in August that the case could proceed, citing Rennert’s control over Doe Run and related entities.
This decision sets the stage for a trial that could take place as early as 2025. Lawyer Jerry Schlichter, representing the Peruvian plaintiffs, told the NY Post that damages could total hundreds of millions—or even exceed $1 billion—if the case succeeds.
Rennert’s spokesperson, Jim McCarthy, vehemently denied the allegations, claiming the case is a “complete fraud” and blaming the Peruvian government for the mine’s environmental issues. McCarthy emphasized that Doe Run invested over $300 million in improving the facility during its 12-year tenure, reducing emissions significantly.
The Peruvian government has contested Rennert’s claims of indemnity and is engaged in arbitration with Renco at The Hague. Meanwhile, Rennert’s legal troubles aren’t new; in 2015, he was ordered to pay $118 million to creditors after being accused of looting Magnesium Corp. of America to fund his lavish estate.
As reported by the NY Post, the stakes are high for both sides, with potentially devastating implications for Rennert’s business empire and the lives of those affected in Peru.
