The Bell Law Firm Filing Class Action Complaints on Behalf of West Virginia Contaminated Water Victims
Charleston, WV (PRWEB) January 10, 2014 -- The Bell Law Firm, PLLC filed class action complaints today on behalf of West Virginians that have been affected by a chemical leak in the Elk River causing a state of emergency in nine counties yesterday. Up to 300,000 residents, business owners and medical facilities are estimated to be affected by contamination at the West Virginia American Water Company, as reported this afternoon by NBC News.
According to NBC’s report, yesterday morning as much as 5,000 gallons of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, a chemical used in coal processing, leaked from Freedom Industries’ Charleston facility into the Elk River and contaminated the supply of the nearby West Virginia American Water Company. This led to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declaring a state of emergency in Kanawha, Cabell, Putnam, Lincoln, Boone, Logan, Clay, Roane and Jackson Counties yesterday evening which restricted use of water to flushing toilets and tending to fire emergencies, according to a Jan. 9 report in the Charleston Gazette.
Harry F. Bell, Jr., managing partner of The Bell Law Firm, PLLC, said, "I applaud the fast actions of the EPA and FEMA in responding to Gov. Tomblin's call for help. This shows how important and critical these agencies are in protecting the public.”
Mr. Bell has already filed two class action complaints on behalf of plaintiffs today, according to documents filed in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia. The complaints were filed on behalf of Susan Dyer (Civil Action No. 14-C-53) and Kanawha Gourmet Sandwiches, LLC (Civil Action No. 14-C-55) respectively, against Freedom Industries and West Virginia-American Water Company.
"My preliminary discussions last night were with knowledgeable individuals, including a chemical engineer and a highly placed medical doctor - both expressed strong concerns about what has transpired,” Mr. Bell said of his investigations leading him to file the complaints.
Affected residents are being asked not to use the water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing, or for any other purposes than flushing or tending to a fire emergency. Those interested in filing a class action complaint can contact The Bell Law Firm by calling toll-free 1-800-342-1701, emailing hfbell (at) belllaw (dot) com or by visiting belllaw.com.
About The Bell Law Firm
With the legal and technical resources necessary to litigate the most complex cases, The Bell Law Firm is proud to represent injury and accident victims from their office in Charleston, West Virginia. Having recovered millions of dollars for personal injury victims, the experienced attorneys at The Bell Law Firm work closely with their clients to successfully deliver justice on their behalf. For more information or for a free, no-obligation case review, visit http://www.belllaw.com or call 1-800-342-1701.
The Bell Law Firm
30 Capitol Street
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone #: 304-345-1700
Fax #: 304-345-1715
Harry F. Bell, Jr., The Bell Law Firm, PLLC, http://www.belllaw.com, +1 (304) 345-1700, [email protected]
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