A federal court has upheld a damning verdict against a Phillipsburg, New Jersey pipe-maker.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the verdicts and sentences against Atlantic States and four former employees.

The court says the defendants' arguments about a lower court's handling of the case didn't have merit.

Atlantic States was ordered to pay $8 million dollars for violating environmental safety rules and covering up several accidents including one that killed a man.

A former manager and three employees were sentenced to a combined 12 years and 3 months in prison.