A federal judge ruled again in favor of Hoover Co. retirees in a civil lawsuit involving health care benefits.

A federal judge again ruled that more than 1,000 Hoover Co. retirees should receive lifetime health care benefits.

U.S. District Court Judge Benita Y. Pearson in Youngstown denied a request by the Whirlpool Corp. to overturn the ruling she had made following a previous bench trial.

Last week’s ruling affects an estimated 1,700 Hoover retirees, said Brian Zimmerman, a Canton attorney who has represented the retirees throughout the lengthy legal battle. He said he expects Whirlpool to challenge the ruling through the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.

“We’re very confident in upholding the case,” Zimmerman said Tuesday.

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