Residents of San Fernando Valley were exposed to toxins from a gas leak for at least three years, at the hands of the L.A. Department of Water & Power, contends a recently filed class action lawsuit.
Lead plaintiffs, a nonprofit and area resident Jorge Rodriguez, claim that the mostly working-class neighborhoods were exposed to foul odors and toxins from a 2015 breach in the SoCalGas Aliso Canyon gas storage facility. Despite filing a lawsuit against the gas company over the leak claiming the exposure caused nausea, dizziness, nosebleeds, headaches, and other ill health effects, the City of Los Angeles and Department of Water & Power (DWP) failed to inform San Fernando Valley residents for over 1,000 days, states the lawsuit.
“DWP deliberately neglected the facility and admits this came at a sacrifice of the health and well-being of its neighbors, members of the predominantly Latinx and African-American community, who are working class, economically poor, and educationally disadvantaged,” the class action states.
The nonprofit and Rodriguez contend that despite the risk of exposure, DWP failed to order the immediate repair of the facility, exacerbating the injuries to San Fernando Valley residents living, working, and raising children in the area.
“Everyone knows the simple truth that gas is invisible,” the lawsuit states. “DWP knew this truth and violated the public trust by not being transparent about the invisible, toxic leak from its inception, and by not stopping the leak.”
According to the class action lawsuit, San Fernando Valley residents were not informed of the gas leak until mid-2020. The complaint contends that exposure to the gas made area residents particularly vulnerable to complications from COVID-19.
“DWP provided no warnings at all – warnings which would have been especially instructive amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic,” the lawsuit claims. “DWP knew that people living near the Valley Generating Station were especially vulnerable if exposed to COVD-19 because of the respiratory harm caused by exposure to the gas, and even still, DWP did nothing to notify local residents of potential harms.”
The nonprofit and Rodriguez seek to represent San Fernando Valley residents exposed to the gas leak. The class action is seeking compensation for damages, including property damage and medical bills, along with continued medical monitoring of residents. In addition, the nonprofit and Rodriguez want a court order requiring DWP to come into compliance with health and safety regulations and immediately respond to future gas leaks.
DWP has been at the center of numerous lawsuits over the years. In 2015, DWP and the City of Los Angeles faced a billion-dollar class action lawsuit alleging a faulty billing system overcharged customers for service – which they agreed to settle for $44 million.
Are you a San Fernando Valley resident exposed to the alleged gas leak? Have you suffered any health effects or property damage? We want to hear from you! Tell us about it in the comment section below.
The lead plaintiffs are represented by R. Rex Parris, Alexander R. Wheeler, and Sylvia Torres-Guillén of Parris Law Firm.
The San Fernando Valley Gas Leak Class Action Lawsuit is Pueblo y Salud, Inc., et al. v. City of Los Angeles’ Department of Water & Power, et al., Case No. 21STCV04346 in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles.
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
2 thoughts onL.A. Water Department ‘Knowingly Poisoned’ San Fernando Valley Residents, Lawsuit Claims
How do I check to see when i signed up for the lawsuit or if it even went through. Me and my sister Brittney both signed up for that lawsuit.
Please add me I lived in Pacoima from 1972 until 1997.