West Virginia no stranger to chemical spills
West Virginia is an industrial state. Mountaineers work in coal mines, steel mills, other factories and plants. As a byproduct of this, the state is no stranger to their share of serious and fatal accidents that not only injure workers, but also cause problems for the general public.
The most recent chemical spills have created problems with the water supply, but chemical spills into the waterways are hardly a new occurrence. Back in 2012, four lawsuits were filed against E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co. because of contamination of the water supply with C8, a chemical used to produce Teflon. The contamination was from the DuPont factory in Wood County, and the original lawsuits were filed by residents of Athens County, Ohio. However, the number of lawsuits have increased and includes residents of Meigs, Washington, Holmes and Adams counties, as well as counties not in the state of Ohio.
The lawsuits states that the fact that the chemical tainted the water has led to medical issues. Plaintiffs allege that the chemical has led to thyroid disease and ulceritive colitis. They are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages. The amount being sought was not included in the filing.
DuPont is fighting the lawsuit, claiming that it acted according to the regulations at the time. The company also contends that some of the plaintiffs do not have the right to sue because they were part of a class action suit that took place in 2005. DuPont has asked that the case be dismissed, the plaintiff receive nothing from the lawsuit and that the company be reimbursed for court costs.
For those who are harmed because of the actions of another person or company, seeking compensation for their injuries is well within their rights. Speaking with an experienced legal representative can shed light on the rights a person might have.
Source: The Athens News, “More C8 lawsuits coming from Athens County” Jim Phillips, Feb. 12, 2014