by Doug La Rocque
In early October last year, a settlement in a class action lawsuit against Taconic was announced that totaled $23.5 million, the money to cover damages from the alleged PFOA contamination of the Town’s water supply and that of some residents with private wells. On Monday, March 21, State Supreme Court Justice Patrick McGrath held a fairness hearing, where no objections to the settlement were voiced. He then signed the document. A portion of this money is to be set aside for medical monitoring for 15 years for residents with PFOA levels in their blood greater than 1.86 parts per billion.
Stephen Schwarz of the firm Faraci Lange was the lead attorney in the case. He tells The Eastwick Press “This is one of the largest settlements per capita in the country involving PFOA contamination. Homeowners in Petersburgh will now be compensated for their loss of property value caused by the contamination as well as receive payments for the loss of the use of their private well water before filtration systems were installed.”
“The Burdick (one of the complainants) Case is the first certified medical monitoring class in New York State and will be a model for future cases where the water supply for an entire community is contaminated,” added James Bilsborrow, Co-Lead Counsel with the firm Weitz & Luxenberg of New York City.
“The Medical Monitoring Program will provide fifteen years of medical surveillance for people who consumed the contaminated water in Petersburgh and had above background levels of PFOA in their blood when tested,” according to Hadley Lundback, Co-Lead Class Counsel, also with Faraci Lange. “This Program will promote early diagnosis and treatment of the conditions associated with PFOA exposure for an estimated 500 people who will qualify.”
“Over 400 Claim Forms have already been received, and we expect more before the April 4, 2022 deadline,” said Bilsborrow. Failure to file a Claim Form on or before that date will result in exclusion from the settlement benefits. Information on how to file a claim is available online at www.petersburghpfoasettlement.com. Alternatively, potential class members can contact Emma Duggan (212- 558-5677; eduggan@weitzlux.com) or Steve Schwarz (585-399-6035; sschwarz@faraci.com).