Paulsboro Water Contamination Class Action Settlement

Solvay Specialty Polymers USA (Solvay) and Arkema Inc. (Arkema) have agreed to settle a class action lawsuit for $2.7 million brought on behalf on three Paulsboro, New Jersey families alleging the companies contaminated the Paulsboro drinking water.

The plaintiffs claim that Solvay and Arkema each separately owned and operated a manufacturing plant in West Deptford Township that caused the discharge of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), which allegedly entered the municipal water supply of the Borough of Paulsboro.

According to the Paulsboro water contamination class action lawsuit, a range of PFCs including perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), have been present in the drinking water for many years. The discovery of these chemicals allegedly leads back to the Solvay Specialty Polymers and Arkema facilities.

The chemicals have been reportedly linked to diseases such as kidney cancer, testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease and pregnancy induced hypertension. Exposure to these chemicals has also been linked to increased blood glucose, increased blood cholesterol, decreased insulin levels, increased liver function study results and increased thyroid levels in children.

In 2014, the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) advised Paulsboro residents that infants and children up to age one should stick to bottled water or liquid prepared formula. As a result of these water contamination findings, Paulsboro has closed one of its water supply wells.

Solvay and Arkema deny these allegations, but have agreed to resolve the class action to avoid the burden and expense of continued litigation.

The Paulsboro water settlement amount includes: $800,000 for attorneys’ fees and litigation-related expenses of Class Counsel; $5,000 incentive payments to each lead plaintiff; $420,000 for the property Class; and $1,460,000 for the Resident Class Fund for blood tests.

If the settlement funds are not fully depleted by blood testing, the remainder of the settlement will be distributed to adult members of the Resident Class (age 18 or older).

Who’s Eligible

Under the terms of the Paulsboro water contamination class action lawsuit settlement, all persons who resided in the Borough of Paulsboro for at least 12 months between Aug. 19, 2009 and Apr. 10, 2014 or who owned residential property at any time between Aug. 5, 2013 and Apr. 10, 2014 are eligible Class Members.

Potential Award

Varies.

Eligible property owners are entitled to receive a payment estimated at $200 per parcel. The exact amount of the property Class payment will be calculated by the Claims Administrator and will depend on the number of eligible property Class Members participating in the settlement. The deadline to file a Claim for the property Class passed on May 3, 2016.

However, eligible residents are entitled to one blood test for PFCs during the testing period from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30, 2016.  A postcard with detailed information about the blood test, including when and where the test will be made available and how to schedule a blood test was mailed via postcard to eligible resident Class Members on July 19, 2016.

Proof of Purchase

N/A.

FAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS »

Blood Testing Period

08/01/2016 – 09/30/2016

To schedule a free blood test to be conducted in your home by AcuLabs, Inc., call (732) 839-1230

“When you call to schedule your appointment, you will need to provide your Class Member ID number, which is located on the front of the postcard mailed to your home address. If you are or believe yourself to be a Resident Class Member and have not received a postcard with your Class Member ID number, you should call the Class Administrator at 1-855-615-5431.”

Case Name

Thomas, et al. v. Solvay Specialty Polymers USA LLC, et al., Case No. 1:14-cv-01870-NLH-JS, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Camden Division

Final Hearing

06/02/2016

Settlement Website

www.PaulsboroWaterSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Paulsboro Water Settlement Class Administrator
c/o Dahl Administration
PO Box 3614
Minneapolis, MN 55403-0614
855-615-5431

Email: mail@PaulsboroWaterSettlement.com

Class Counsel

Lewis G. Adler, Esq.
LAW OFFICE OF LEWIS ADLER

Roger C. Mattson, Esq.
LAW OFFICE OF ROGER C. MATTSON

Louis D. Fletcher, Esq.
LAW OFFICE OF LOUIS D. FLETCHER

Paul DePetris, Esq.
LAW OFFICE OF PAUL DEPETRIS

WILLIAMS CUKER BEREZOFSKY LLC

CEDAR LAW FIRM

Defense Counsel

BALLARD SPAHR LLP

FOX ROTHSCHILD LLP

FISHERBROYLES LLP