KBR sued in over waste disposal in Iraq, Afghanistan

SAN FRANCISCO, April 28 (Reuters) - KBR Inc (KBR.N) was sued on Tuesday in three states on accusations that the company exposed U.S. soldiers and contractors at U.S. bases in Iraq and Afghanistan to toxic smoke, court documents showed.

KBR, an engineering and construction company that also manages military logistics, was paid by the U.S. government to dispose of waste on the bases, according to the complaints filed on behalf of soldiers who had been deployed in the two countries.

Oilfield services company Halliburton Co (HAL.N), which spun off KBR two years ago, was also named as a defendant in the lawsuits, being brought by law firm Burke O'Neil LLC.

The lawsuits, filed in Georgia, Alabama and Illinois, accused KBR of failing to properly dispose of waste which led to prolonged exposure to hazardous smoke, fumes and ash.

"These exposures are causing a host of serious diseases, increased risk of serious diseases in the future, death and increased risk of death," the complaints in all three states said.

Burke O'Neil said in a statement that similar actions were being filed in California, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, and Wyoming.

The law firm said in the statement that the actions were on behalf of at least 20 current and former military personnel, private contractors, and families of two men who allegedly died due to exposure to the smoke.

KBR said it had not reviewed the complaints and therefore could not comment on the specific allegations.

"The general assertion, however, that KBR knowingly harmed soldiers or contractors is unfounded," the company said in an emailed statement. "The safety and security of all employees and those the company serves remains KBR's top priority." (Reporting by Braden Reddall; Editing by Toni Reinhold)