Status: In progress

McGraw, et al. v. Altuglas LLC, et al.

Philadelphia residents are suing Trinseo and a subsidiary, alleging a recent chemical spill from the companies’ Pennsylvania plant caused dangerous chemicals to contaminate the Delaware River.

  • Deadline to file a claim: TBD
  • Proof of Purchase Required: No
  • Potential Individual Reward: TBD
  • Total Settlement Amount: TBD
  • States Involved

Jessy Edwards  |  April 13, 2023

Category: Legal News

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Cityscape of Philadelphia and Delaware River
(Photo Credit: photo.ua/Shutterstock)

Trinseo chemical spill class action overview: 

  • Who: Philadelphia residents sued Trinseo and a subsidiary.
  • Why: The plaintiffs say a recent chemical spill from the companies’ Pennsylvania plant caused dangerous chemicals to contaminate the Delaware River.
  • Where: The Trinseo chemical spill class action was filed in a Pennsylvania federal court.

Philadelphia residents sued Trinseo and a subsidiary, alleging a recent chemical spill from the companies’ Pennsylvania plant caused dangerous chemicals to contaminate the Delaware River.

Plaintiffs Timothy McGraw, Emily Cohen and Danielle Byrd filed the class action lawsuit against Altuglas LLC and Trinseo LLC on March 29 in a Pennsylvania federal court, alleging negligence.

According to the lawsuit, a latex emulsion product overflowed the plant’s onsite containment system and entered a storm drain. It allegedly flowed into a creek and then to the Delaware River, according to company officials. Between 8,100 and 12,000 gallons of the solution was released, a mix of butyl acetate, ethyl acetate and methyl methacrylate, the Trinseo class action states. 

The Delaware River is the primary source of drinking water for 914,000 Philadelphia residents, it adds.

“The chemical spill and potential contamination of drinking water prompted residents and businesses throughout Philadelphia to immediately purchase bottled water and incur other economic damages that they would not have otherwise incurred except for the spill,” the Trinseo chemical spill class action states.

Not facility’s first chemical spill, Trinseo class action states

The facility has had at least four previous leaks dating back to 2010, with the most recent being a methyl methacrylate leak in early 2020, the plaintiffs say.

The leaked chemicals can cause headaches, nausea and irritation of the skin, eyes and respiratory passages, among other medical concerns, according to the complaint.

“Residents continue to live in fear that their tap water is not or will no longer be safe, thus requiring residents to go to the store and purchase bottled water or take other actions in response to the chemical spill, that they would not have taken absent the chemical spill,” the Trinseo class action states.

The plaintiffs seek to represent anyone living in the area served by the local Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant. They are suing for negligence, private and public nuisance and seek certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial. 

Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed maximum contaminant levels of four parts per trillion of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid in drinking water systems throughout the country—the first ever regulatory limits on “forever chemicals” in water. 

What do you think of the allegations in this Trinseo class action? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by Shanon J. Carson, Y. Michael Twersky and Dena Young of Berger Montague PC; Daniel C. Levin, Charles E. Schaffer and Nicholas J. Elia of Levin Sedran & Berman LLP; and Joseph C. Kohn, William E. Hoese and Zahra R. Dean of Kohn Swift & Graf PC.

The Trinseo chemical spill class action lawsuit is McGraw, et al. v. Altuglas LLC, et al., Case No. 30303396, in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County.


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2 thoughts onTrinseo class action claims company responsible for chemical spill that contaminated Delaware River

  1. Karen cohn says:

    Add me . I live in Bristol township 2 miles away from the spill . Trinseo has been polluting us for decades . Our area has the highest lung diseases and cancer rates in the whole county . Add me to this class action suit .

  2. Marie says:

    contact me if necessary

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