A Seoul court on Tuesday ordered a local consumer goods producer to compensate up to 100 million won ($85,700) each to the victims of toxic humidifier sterilizer, in the first ruling made in favor of people who have taken legal action.

In August 2014, a total of 13 victims affected by the use of the humidifier disinfectants from February 2008 to April 2011 filed a suit against the government and companies that produced the deadly products, seeking compensation for injuries or deaths caused.

The Seoul Central District Court found one of the defendants, Cefu, responsible for the victims' suffering and ordered it to pay 100 million won each to the parents whose children died after using its sterilizer. The court also ordered it to pay compensation ranging from 10 million to 30 million won to other victims.

Other companies, except for Cefu, were not subject to the ruling as they had reached settlements with the victims in advance.

Still, the court freed the government from liability to compensate, citing lack of evidence.

Plaintiffs originally claimed the government also had to be held responsible as it failed to properly monitor the firms.

The humidifier disinfectant case, one of the worst scandals involving consumer products using chemicals, came to light after four pregnant women died of lung problems for unknown reason in 2011.

A government-led investigation later confirmed a connection between scores of people who died of lung problems and the chemicals used to clean household humidifiers.

A separate criminal trial is under way for the product makers, including Cefu and local unit of British consumer goods maker Reckitt Benckiser. (Yonhap)