Jury Awards $1.5 Billion in Exxon Gas Leak Case
Baltimore, Maryland and Delaware Groundwater Contamination Attorneys
A Baltimore County jury returned a verdict on July 1, 2011, awarding $1.5 billion in punitive and compensatory damages to families and businesses affected by an Exxon Mobil gas leak in Jacksonville, Maryland. The $1.5 billion may be the largest ever awarded in the country for this type of case, and the amount is the largest of any reported award in Maryland.
The groundwater contamination case included 160 plaintiffs, composed of families and businesses, represented by the groundwater contamination attorneys at the Law Offices of Peter Angelos, PC. Compensatory damages were awarded for loss of property value, emotional distress and medical monitoring. The $1 billion in punitive damages reflects the egregiousness of Exxon’s actions.
A Community Drinks Tainted Water while Exxon Buries the Truth
In 2006, a pipe burst beneath an Exxon gas station. Undetected for more than a month, 26,000 gallons of gasoline seeped into the groundwater beneath the feet of Jacksonville residents. Gasoline contains methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), a compound added to gasoline and linked to cancer. A study of 396 wells in the area revealed that more than 70 percent contained traces of MTBE. People in Jacksonville drank this water for years before any efforts were made to clean it up.
Once the leak was detected, Exxon knowingly lied about it to the Maryland Department of the Environment, county officials, and to the community. While people continued to use water from their wells, Exxon downplayed the extent of the leak and posted a sign at the gas station saying “closed for upgrades.”
While Exxon acted as though the gas leak was no big deal, people in Jacksonville bathed, brushed their teeth, cooked with and drank water tainted with gasoline. Years later, they are haunted by not knowing. They do not know if cancer and other health problems are waiting for them down the road. Residents are riddled with anxiety, resulting in headaches and sleeplessness.
During the 6-month trial, Exxon hid behind useless apologies and said that the leak was a simple mistake, refusing to see the human toll of the groundwater contamination. Residents have seen their million dollar homes plummet in value. Home sales have come to a standstill in the area. Once beautiful, the properties in Jacksonville have become poisonous wastelands.
A Lifetime of Worry: What is in the Water?
Jacksonville is a small town about 20 miles north of Baltimore. The community does not have access to public water, and instead relies on wells. Every time a tap is turned on in Jacksonville, someone is worrying about what is in the water. Every time a child plays in the water, a mother fears for that child’s future wellbeing. A good night’s sleep is often unattainable for these residents, tortured as they are by anxiety and constant worry.
For the rest of their lives, each person exposed to the gas leak will carry an extra burden. Vigilant medical monitoring will be necessary to ensure they are not developing leukemia and other cancers. Gasoline exposure has also been linked to memory loss and reduced muscle function.
After the gas line burst, the odor of gas could be smelled fuming up from backyards and basements. The entire town has fallen into a lingering, gasoline-tainted nightmare. Jacksonville will never be the same. Families who once felt safe in this community will always have to worry. Parents will constantly worry that their children are drinking carcinogens. Showers will always feel a little too long, and the safety and sanctity of home will forever be marred.
For more information about this case, or if you have a groundwater contamination concern, please contact the experienced Baltimore, Maryland and Delaware groundwater contamination attorneys at the Law Offices of Peter Angelos.
