Terminix fined $10 million

According to a March 29 press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Terminix has entered a plea agreement to pay $8 million in criminal fines, $1 million in restitution and $1 million for community service projects for its role in a fumigation accident in the U.S. Virgin Islands in March 2015. A family of four was vacationing in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and became ill as a result of a misapplication of methyl bromide in the vacation villa below the unit in which they were staying. An 8-K filing from Terminix’s parent company, ServiceMaster, explaining the agreement in legal detail can be downloaded here. The agreement is at press time still subject to approval.

This comes on the heels of the March 10 announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice that Sunland Pest Control Services and two co-defendants have pled guilty in Fort Pierce, Fla., for an illegal application of sulfuryl fluoride that resulted in injuries to a minor child. Sunland was subcontracted by Terminix to perform a residential fumigation in Palm City, Fla. Sunland faces up to five years of probation and a $500,000 when it is sentenced May 11, 2016. Terminix, it should be noted, was not named or charged in the criminal case against Sunland.