As DuPont Faces C8 Lawsuits, They Face Fines Over Another Chemical Spill
Columbus, OH (PRWEB) December 22, 2014
Wright & Schulte LLC notes that DuPont is facing $120,300 in penalties from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) over hazardous chemicals violations at the company’s Chambers Works Plant in Deepwater, New Jersey. The NJ Biz reported that OSHA found 11 safety and health violations during its investigation of the plant. Of the total number of violations, eight were classified as “serious.” Paula Dixon-Roderick, the director of OSHA’s area office in Marlton, New Jersey was quoted as saying that DuPont’s Deepwater plant uses chemicals that are “corrosive and volatile” and releasing “toxic, reactive or flammable liquid can cause serious injury and death.” DuPont is currently defending itself against C8 water contamination lawsuits alleging that the company released a toxic chemical known as perfluorooctanoic acid, called C8 for short, from its Washington Works Plant near Parkersburg West Virginia and into the private and public water systems in the Mid-Ohio Valley. The C8 lawsuits allege that Ohio and West Virginia residents contracted illnesses such as kidney cancer, thyroid disease and testicular cancer as a result of being exposed to C8 contaminated water. (In Re: E.I. DuPont De Nemours and Company C-8 Personal Injury Litigation, MDL No. 2433, Wood County Circuit Court in West Virginia)
[njbiz.com/article/20141201/NJBIZ01/141209976/DuPont-faces-$120K-in-penalties-over-chemical-leak-at-Deepwater-plant, December 1, 2014]
Wright & Schulte LLC is currently representing numerous clients in the C8 lawsuits. With Attorney Richard W. Schulte, a founding partner with Wright & Schulte LLC, serving on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the federal C8 litigation. The firm continues to offer free legal evaluations to those who believe they have been harmed by C8 contaminated drinking water. You can speak with an experienced attorney by calling 1-800-399-0795 or visit http://www.yourlegalhelp.com for more information on C8 lawsuits and other personal injury lawsuits.
A manager at DuPont’s Chambers Works Plant said that the company is “carefully reviewing” OSHA’s recommendations and is “committed to working” with the Department of Labor, according to a NJ.com report. NJ.com also noted that OSHA gave DuPont a citation for failing to perform inspections and tests on equipment used in chemical processes at its Chambers Works plant. Additionally, OHSA said DuPont did not conduct an analysis that addressed hazards relating to storing and transporting chemicals at the plant, according to NJ.com.
[nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2014/12/dupont_chambers_works_cited
_for_health_safety_violations_by_us_department_of_labor.html, December 1, 2014]
Reuters reported that DuPont is also under investigation by OSHA for a chemical leak of methyl mercaptan that killed four workers at its plant in LaPorte, Texas in November. According to Reuters, methyl mercaptan is a hazardous chemical that gives “natural gas its rotten-egg smell” and it’s also used to make insecticides and plastics. In high enough concentrations, methyl mercaptan can cause death, the report said. The Reuters report said a group of employees, including the victims, were attempting to contain the chemical leak. A plant manager was quoted as saying that the leak “caused a stench across much of southern Houston.” In addition to OSHA’s investigation, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board is also investigating the chemical leak at the Texas plant.
[reuters.com/article/2014/11/17/us-usa-chemicals-death-idUSKCN0J00XA20141117, November 16, 2014]
In addition to concerns at its plants in New Jersey and Texas, DuPont is in litigation over the C8 chemical released at its Washington Works Plant near Parkersburg, West Virginia. Court documents indicate that 1,255 C8 lawsuits are pending in the U.S. District Court, District of Southern Ohio, and an additional 2,400 C8 lawsuit complaints have been filed in Wood County Circuit Court in West Virginia. The lawsuits allege that Ohio and West Virginia plaintiffs and their survivors developed serious illnesses, including high cholesterol and pregnancy-induced hypertension, and death, as a result of drinking water contaminated with the toxic C8 chemical that was discharged from DuPont’s Washington Works Plant. (In Re: E.I. DuPont De Nemours and Company C-8 Personal Injury Litigation, MDL No. 2433)
[jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_District-November-17-2014.pdf, November 17, 2014]
[wvrecord.com/news/271100-c8-mdl-cases-flooding-federal-courts, November 26, 2014]
About Wright & Schulte LLC
Wright & Schulte LLC, an experienced personal injury firm, is dedicated to the belief that America’s legal system should work for the people. Every day, the attorneys of Wright Schulte LLC stand up for the rights of people who have been injured or wronged, and fight tirelessly to ensure that even the world’s most powerful corporations take responsibility for their actions. If you’re looking for a law firm that will guarantee the aggressive and personal representation you deserve, please do not hesitate to contact Wright & Schulte LLC today. Free DuPont C8 lawsuit case evaluations are available through yourlegalhelp.com, or call 1-888-399-0795.
Contact:
Wright & Schulte LLC
812 East National Road
Vandalia, Ohio 45377
1-800-399-0795
http://www.yourlegalhelp.com
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on Google+