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Environmental lawsuits overview:
- Who: Environment-related complaints have recently been filed or settled that involve Montana, Johnson Controls, Chemours, DuPont, Corteva, the Port of Seattle, Alaska Air Group and Delta Air Lines.
- Why: The complaints revolve around issues such as airport pollution, asbestos contamination and the use of carbon-intense fossil fuels, among other things.
- Where: Nationwide.
A number of complaints have recently been filed or resulted in settlement agreements that revolve around environmental issues.
Consumers have taken aim at companies over environmental concerns that include the use of carbon-intense fossil fuels, asbestos contamination, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and airport pollution, among other things.
Montana youths claim state is violating their right to ‘clean and healthful environment’
A lawsuit filed by a group of youths against the state of Montana made it to trial earlier this month. The youths claim Montana is violating the constitutional rights of its citizens by allegedly prioritizing the use of carbon-intense fossil fuels.
The youths argue Montana is ultimately depriving its citizens of their state constitutional right to a “clean and healthful environment,” and compromising the future of its young residents.
Montana, meanwhile, contends the complaint is “far more boring,” than the youths are making it out to be, and that, in reality, it is centered on statutory amendments.
The youths also have an issue with a 2021 amendment made to the Montana Environmental Policy Act, arguing an environmental review would not take into account any actual or potential environmental impacts beyond state borders.
Johnson Controls settles claims it polluted homes of Indiana residents with toxic chemicals
Johnson Controls (JCI) agreed to a class action settlement in April that ended claims that one of its former manufacturing plants had polluted the homes of local Indiana residents with toxic chemicals.
The class action lawsuit — which originated in 2014 — accused JCI of exposing the residents to contaminants such as asbestos and trichloroethylene from a long-shuttered manufacturing plant the company had owned before 2007.
JCI had been accused of trespass, nuisance, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress, along with violating Indiana’s Environmental Legal Action statute.
EPA orders chemical company Chemours to address its role in polluting waterways with PFAS
Also in April, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered chemical company Chemours to take action to address its role in polluting the waterways after being accused of exceeding the amount of PFAS it was allowed to release into the environment.
In an announcement, the EPA ordered Chemours to take corrective measures as a way to address pollution it argued was originating from the company’s Washington Works facility that is close to Parkersburg, West Virginia.
“Through this order, EPA is taking action to address PFAS violations and better protect the resources and people of West Virginia,” the agency said in a statement.
DuPont, Chemours, Corteva to pay $1.2 billion to end water provider’s claims they released PFAS
Chemours — along with Corteva and DuPont — agreed to pay $1.2 billion earlier this month as part of a settlement made to resolve claims from more than 300 drinking water providers that the companies released PFAS into the environment.
DuPont, Chemours and Corteva were accused of selling products containing PFAS, despite allegedly knowing the chemicals would contaminate the environment and cause health issues, including cancer.
The settlement funds will be used to compensate public water systems that have already been able to detect PFAS in their water, while also assisting with testing costs for others, before providing them with the monetary relief.
Seattle residents claim Port of Seattle, airlines ignore pollution originating from Sea-Tac airport
In May, a pair of Seattle-area residents filed a class action lawsuit against the Port of Seattle, Alaska Air Group and Delta Air Lines Inc. over claims they ignored the potential health risks associated with airport pollution.
The residents argued the defendants were endangering the health of individuals living in proximity to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by allegedly ignoring the potential health risks of air pollution in the communities.
“These pollutants settle over local communities, contaminating the air residents breathe and the soil where their children play,” the Sea-Tac class action states.
Delta misrepresents its airline operations as ‘carbon neutral,’ class action says
A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against Delta Air Lines earlier this month over claims the airline misrepresents that its airline operations are “carbon neutral.”
The consumer behind the complaint argues Delta allegedly misrepresents its environmental effects so it can attain “undeserved market share” by charging higher prices to consumers who are willing to pay more as a result.
Delta is accused of misrepresenting that it is carbon neutral — and total environmental effects in general — through its advertisements, corporate announcements and promotional materials.
“The operation of Defendant’s airline is not carbon neutral, and consumers would not have purchased tickets on Defendant’s flights, or paid substantially less for them, had they known the claim of carbon neutrality was false,” the Delta class action states.
Have you been affected by an environment-related class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.
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