throbber
‘~
`
`.
`
`.
`
`SUMMONS
`
`(CITA CION JUDICIAL)
`
`NOTICE TO DEFENDANT:
`
`(A VISO AL DEMANDADO):
`
`THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY; Additional Parties Attachment form is attached.
`
`YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF:
`(LO ESTA DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE):
`
`GOOSE LAKE WATER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
`
`
`
`
`
`SUM-100
`
`FOR COURT USE ONLY
`
`(SOLO PARA USO DE LA CORTE)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information
`below.
`You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy
`served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your
`case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts
`Online Self-Help Center (www.ceurtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the
`court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time. you may lose the case by default, and yourwages, money, and property may
`be taken without further warning from the court.
`There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney
`referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney. you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate
`
`these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (MA/wJewhelpcalifornie.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center
`(www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp). or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and
`costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civll case. The court‘s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.
`,'A VISO! Lo han demandede. Si no responde dentro de 30 dlas, le corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versien. Lea la informacién e
`continuecién.
`Tiene 30 D/AS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citacién y pepeles loge/es para presenter une respuesta por escrito en esta
`corte y hacer que se entregue una copia aI demendante. Una carta o une llamada telefenica no lo protegen. Su respuesta per escrito tiene que ester
`en formate legal cerrecto si desee que procesen su case en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulerio que usted puede usar para su respuesta.
`Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y mas informacién en el Centre de Ayude de las Cortes de California (www.sucerte.ca. gov), en la
`biblioleca de leyes de su cendado e en la corte que le quede mas cerce. Si no puede pager/a cuota de presentacién, pida al secretario de la ceIte que
`
`
`le dé un formulario de exencien de page de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tlempe. puede perder el case por incumplimienle y la corte Ie podra
`
`
`quitar su sue/do, dinero y blenes sin mes advertencia.
`
`
`Hay otros requisites Iegales. Es recomendable que llama a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de
`
`
`remisién a abegados. Si no puede pager e un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisites para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un
`
`
`progreme de servicios Iegeles sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines'de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services,
`
`
`(www.lewhelpcelifomia.org), en el Centre de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.3ucode. ca. gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte 0 el
`
`
`colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Per ley, la corte tiene dereche a reclemarles cuetes y los costos exentos porimponer un grevamen sobre
`
`
`
`
`cualquier recuperecien de $10000 e mas de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo e une concesien de erbitraje en un ceso de derecho civil. Tiene que
`
`pager el grevamen de la corte antes de que la corte puede desechar el case
`
`
`The name and address of the courtIs:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(El nombre y direccién de la corte es): Superior Court Of California
`County of San Francisco
`400 McAllister Street, San Francisco. CA 94102
`
`The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el ntimero
`de te/éfono del ebogado del demendante 0 del demendante que no tiene abogado, es):
`
`John P. Flske, Baron & Budd, P. C. 11440 West Bernardo Court, Suite 265, San Diego, CA 92127; 85
`
`DATE
`Juyl 13 2020JUL 1 3 2020
`CLERK OF THE‘EltDtifiil
`(Fe03ha)
`(Secretario)
`
`(For proof of service of this summons, use Proof of Service of Summons (fomI POS-010).)
`(Para prueba de entrega de esta citation use el fennulario Proof of Service of Summons, (POS-010).)
`NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served
`
`
`
`Form Adapted for Mandatory Use
`Judicial Council of California
`SUM~100 (Rev. July 1, 2009]
`
`1. |:| as an individual defendant.
`2. I:} as the person sued under the fictitious name of (specify):
`
`3. 1:] on behalf of (specify):
`
`|:] CCP 416.60 (minor)
`under: 1:] CCP 416.10 (corporation)
`[:l CCP 416.70 (conservatee)
`|:| CCP 416.20 (defunct corporation)
`|:| CCP 416.40 (association or partnership) I: CCP 416.90 (authorized person)
`|:] other (specify):
`4. I: by personal delivery on (date)
`S U MMO N 3
`
`pa 91.,”
`Code of Clvil Procedure §§ 412.20, 465
`www.courts.ca.gov
`
`

`

`SUM-200 A)
`
`SHORT TITLE:
`
`CASE NUMBER:
`
`
`Goose Lake Water Property Owners Association v. The Dow Chemical CGC " 2 0 - 5 8 5 3 5 8
`
`Com_. an ; et al.
`
`+ This form may be used as an attachment to any summons if space does not permit the listing of all parties on the summons.
`+ If this attachment is used, insert the following statement in the plaintiff or defendant box on the summons: "Additional Parties
`Attachment form is attached."
`
`INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
`
`List additional parties (Check only one box. Use a separate page for each type of party.):
`
`[:I Plaintiff
`
`Defendant
`
`I: Cross-Complainant
`
`|:] Cross-Defendant
`
`SHELL OIL COMPANY, individually and doing business as SHELL CHEMICAL COMPANY;
`OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION; WILBUR ELLIS COMPANY LLC; J.R. SIMPLOT
`COMPANY; FMC CORPORATION; PUREGRO COMPANY; NUTRIEN AG SOLUTIONS, INC;
`SOUTHERN VALLEY CHEMICAL COMPANY; TRICAL, INC, and DOES 1 through 300, INCLUSIVE
`
`Judicial Council of Califomla
`F°"“ A‘°P“"“°rMa"“a‘°“l ”5"
`SUM-200W IRev. January 1. 2007]
`
`ADDITIONAL PARTIES ATTACHMENT
`Attachment to Summons
`
`Page
`
`of
`Page 1 of 1
`
`

`

`BARON & BUDD, P.C.
`John P. Fiske (CA Bar No. 249256)
`11440 West Bernardo Court, Suite 265
`San Diego, CA 92127
`Telephone: (858) 251—7424
`
`Scott Summy (TX Bar No. 19507500)
`Stephen Johnston (TX Bar No. 00796839)
`Celeste Evangelisti (CA Bar No. 225232)
`Cary McDougal (TX Bar No. 13569600)
`3102 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 1100
`Dallas, TX 75219-4281
`
`Telephone: (214) 521-3605
`
`BY‘FL‘X
`
`E E E?" E}:
`
`San Hancism CountySuperioriéeufi
`
`JUL 1 3 2020
`
`GQUBT
`
`
`Deputy Clerk
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff Goose Lake Water Property Owners Association
`
`IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
`
`IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14s
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`2O
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24s
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`GOOSE LAKE WATER PROPERTY
`
`OWNERS ASSOCIATION,
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`VS.
`
`' THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY;
`SHELL OIL COMPANY, individually and
`doing business as SHELL CHEMICAL
`COMPANY; OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL
`CORPORATION; WILBUR ELLIS
`COMPANY LLC; J.R. SIMPLOT
`COMPANY; FMC CORPORATION;
`PUREGRO COMPANY; NUTRIEN AG
`SOLUTIONS, INC.; SOUTHERN VALLEY
`CHEMICAL COMPANY; TRICAL, INC.,
`and DOES 1 through 300, INCLUSIVE,
`
`Defendants.
`
`cacazo~5853§8
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND bTHER
`RELIEF:
`
`(1) STRICT PROD. LIABILITY
`(DESIGN DEFECT);
`(2) STRICT PROD. LIABHJTY
`(FAILURE TO WARN)
`(3) NUISANCE;
`(4) TRESPASS; and
`(5) NEGLIGENCE.
`
`UNLIMITED CIVIL CASE
`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
`
`Exempt from Filing Fees (Govt. Code § 6103);
`Deemed Verified (Code Civ. Proc. § 446)
`
`vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv Date Filed:
`
`Plaintiff GOOSE LAKE WATER PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION hereby alleges as
`
`follows, basedon information and belief and investigation of counsel:
`
` 1 -WaeeMw.u-Au.qmI-Im-.-.-M.-.muA-.-.-Awww-xIw.-.-.-.-.-«WA-I-.;yum,-mmmmwa—awmwmwwwxc
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND OTHER RELIEF
`
`

`

`O
`
`' O
`
`I.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE CASE
`
`1.
`
`Plaintiff GOOSE LAKE WATER PROPERTY OWNERS AS SOCLATION
`
`(“Plaintiff”) owns and operates a public water system (Gooselake Water Company Water System,
`
`System No. 1500584) that provides drinking water to residents in its service area which is located in
`
`Bakersfield, California. Plaintiff seeks to recover by this action the substantial costs necessary to
`
`protect the public and restore one or more of its drinking water supply wells, which are contaminated
`
`by the toxic chemical, 1,2,3-trichloropropane (“TCP”).
`
`2.
`
`TCP is a highly toxic substance that is an ingredient, component, constituent,
`
`contaminant and/or impurity in certain commercial products. In years past, TCP, and/or products
`
`containing TCP (collectively referred to hereinafter as “TCP Products”), were applied, released,
`
`discharged and/or disposed of by others in the vicinity of one or more drinking water supply wells
`
`owned and operated by Plaintiff. TCP has migrated through the subsurface and into the groundwater,
`
`and now contaminates the water pumped from. one or more of Plaintiff 5 wells.
`
`3.
`
`The defendants in this action are the manufacturers, distributors and releasers of
`
`the TCP Products that caused the contamination of Plaintiff s water supply. Among other things, the
`
`manufacturer defendants knowingly and willfully manufactured, promoted, and sold TCP Products,
`
`when they knew or reasonably should have known that this harmful compound would reach
`
`groundwater, pollute drinking water supplies, render drinking water unusable and unsafe, and threaten
`
`public health and welfare, as it has done with respect to Plaintiffs water supply.
`
`4.
`
`Plaintiff files this lawsuit to recover compensatory and all other damages, including all
`
`necessary funds to compensate Plaintiff for the costs of designing, constructing, installing, operating
`
`and maintaining the treatment facilities and equipment required to comply with state and federal safe
`
`drinking water laws and to remove TCP from its water supply, and, to ensure that the responsible
`
`parties bear such expense, rather than Plaintiff and its members and/or ratepayers.
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`144
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`Q6
`
`27
`
`28
`
`2
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND OTHER RELIEF
`
`

`

`II.
`
`THE PARTIES
`
`5.
`
`Plaintiff owns and operates a public water system, which includes, among other
`
`elements, one or more drinking water production wells which'draw from one or more groundwater
`
`aquifers, associated pumping, storage, treatment and distribution facilities and equipment, all of which
`
`will be referred to collectively in this Complaint as Plaintiff s I“Water System.” Plaintiff provides
`
`potable water through its Water System to residents in its service area which is located in Bakersfield,
`
`California. Among other things, Plaintiffs Water System includes the right of Plaintiff to extract and
`
`use groundwater from its well(s) to supply drinking water to residents in its service area. Plaintiff has a
`
`significant property interest in the waters it extracts and uses from its wells. The past, present and
`
`continuing contamination of such waters by TCP constitutes physical injury to such waters for which
`
`Plaintiff is entitled to, and Plaintiff hereby does, seek damages and other appropriate relief.
`
`6.
`
`The following defendants designed, manufactured, formulated, marketed, promoted,
`
`distributed, sold (directly or indirectly), applied, discharged, disposed of and/or released the TCP
`
`Products that are the source of the TCP that contaminates Plaintiff’s wells and water supply.
`
`7.
`
`Defendant THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY (“Dow Chemical”) is a Delaware
`
`corporation with its principal place of business in Midland, Michigan, which at all times relevant to
`
`this action was doing business in California.
`
`8.
`
`Defendant SHELL OIL COMPANY, individually and doing business as SHELL
`
`CHEMICAL COMPANY (“Shell”) is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business
`
`in Houston, Texas, which at all times relevant to this action was doing business in California.
`
`'9.
`
`Defendant OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION, individually and as
`
`successor by merger to Occidental Chemical Agricultural Products, Inc. (formerly known as
`
`Occidental Chemical Company, successor by merger to Associated Farm Supplies (successor by
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14s
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`2O
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`3
`WyWW.-A-.-.-.w..tW“9:a.w,yxu-A.mWWWw:.-4..7m-mw...M-.-.-.a=AA.-.-.viw-.w.;Aw.qJMama-WJMWMMWM-wm.
`
`..
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND OTHER RELIEF
`
`

`

`I
`
`merger to North Kern Farm Service Co. and Winton Farm Service Co.)) (“Occidental”), is a New York
`
`corporation with its principal place of business in Dallas, Texas, which at all times relevant to this
`
`action was doing business in California.
`
`10.
`
`Defendant WILBUR-ELLIS COMPANY LLC (“Wilbur-Ellis”) is a California
`
`corporation with its principal place of business in San Francisco, California, which at all times relevant
`
`to this action was doing business in California.
`
`11.
`
`Defendant J.R. SIMPLOT COMPANY (formerly known as Simplot Company),
`
`individually and doing business as Simplot Grower Solutions and Simplot Soilbuilders, and as
`
`successor by merger to Simcal Chemical Company (formerly known as Valley Nitrogen Producers,
`
`Inc.) (“Simplot”), is a Nevada corporation with its principal place of business in Boise, Idaho, which at
`all times relevant to this action was doing business in California.
`
`12.
`
`Defendant FMC CORPORATION (“FMC”) is a Delaware corporation with its principal
`
`place of business in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which at all times relevant to this action was doing
`
`business in California.
`
`13.
`
`Defendant PUREGRO COMPANY (“PureGro”) is a California corporation with its
`
`principal place of business in San Ramon, California, which at all times relevant to this action was
`
`doing business in California.
`
`14.
`
`Defendant NUTRIEN AG SOLUTIONS, INC. (formerly known as Crop Production
`
`Services, Inc.), individually and as successor in interest to Western Farm Service, Inc. (formerly
`
`known as Cascade Farm Services, Inc.) and as successor in interest to UAP Distribution, Inc.
`
`(individually and doing business as United Agri Products West, UAP West, and United Agri Products,
`
`and as successor in interest to United Agri Products Financial Services, Inc.) (“Nutrien”), is a
`
`Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Loveland, Colorado, which at all times
`
`relevant to this action was doing business in California.
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24:
`
`25
`
`26
`
`Q7
`
`28
`
`WWWWW-WWWX .
`
`4
` WWW.W—m
`
`
`
`
`v-mmwm-- MW
`
`tmwuwwwmmv
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND OTHER RELIEF
`
`

`

`p.
`
`15.
`
`Defendant SOUTHERN VALLEY CHEMICAL COMPANY (“Southern Valley”) is a
`
`California corporation with its principal place of business in Arvin, California, which at all times
`
`relevant to this action was doing business in California.
`
`16.
`
`Defendant TRICAL, INC. (“TriCal”) is a'California corporation with its principal place
`
`of business in Gilroy, California, which at all times relevant to this action was doing business in
`
`California.
`
`17.
`
`The names and capacities, whether individual, corporate or otherwise, of defendants
`
`named herein as DOES 1 through 300, inclusive, are unknown at this time to Plaintiff who therefore
`
`sues said defendants by such fictitious names. Plaintiff will amend the Complaint to show the true
`
`names and capacities of said defendants when their identities and capacities have been ascertained.
`
`18.
`
`The defendants named in paragraphs 7-16 above and defendant DOES 1 through 300,
`
`inclusive, are referred to collectively herein as “Defendants.”
`
`19.
`
`Defendants Dow and Shell and DOES 1 through 100, inclusive, are referred to
`
`collectively herein as Manufacturer Defendants.
`
`20.
`
`Defendants Occidental, Wilbur Ellis, Simplot, FMC, PureGro, Nutrien, Southern
`
`Valley, TriCal, and DOES 101 through 200, inclusive, are referred to collectively herein as Distributor
`
`Defendants.
`
`21.
`
`DOES 201 through 300, inclusive, are referred to collectively herein as Owner/Operator
`
`Defendants.
`
`22. When reference is made in this Complaint to any act or omission of any of the
`
`Defendants, it shall be deemed that the officers, directors, agents, employees or representatives of the
`
`Defendants committed or authorized such act or omission, or failed to adequately supervise or properly
`
`control or direct their employees while engaged in the management, direction, operation or control of
`
`the affairs of Defendants, and did so while acting within the scope of their duties, employment or
`
`agency.
`
`5
`W<WWoyWM-:WWx\y).\WWWNAW“«\uK-x:W-'-K'-V-'r-'-K‘AWMA'-'-K“firwww-WWAVMWWMWWWWWWWWWMWWW
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND OTHER RELIEF
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14:
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`Q3
`
`24
`
`Q5
`
`Q6
`
`27
`
`28
`
`

`

`III.
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`I
`
`23.
`
`The California Superior Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to California
`
`Constitution Article VI, Section 10, which grants the Superior Court “original jurisdiction in all cases
`
`except those given by statute to other trial courts.” The statutes under which this action is brought do
`
`not grant jurisdiction to any other trial court.
`
`24.
`
`This Court has jurisdiction over Defendants because, based on information and belief,
`
`each is a corporation or other business that has sufficient minimum contacts in California, is a citizen
`
`of California, or otherwise intentionally avails itself of the California market either through the
`
`distribution or sale of products containing TCP in the State of California or by having a manufacturing,
`
`distribution or other facility located in California so as to render the exercise ofjurisdiction over it by
`
`the California courts consistent with traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.
`
`25.
`
`Venue is proper in San Francisco Superior Court because at least one Defendant’s
`
`principal place of business is located within the County of San Francisco.
`
`IV.
`
`ALLEGATIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL CAUSES OF ACTION
`
`A.
`
`The Contaminant: TCP.
`
`26.
`
`TCP does not occur naturally. Rather, TCP is and/or was produced as a byproduct of
`
`certain chemical processes used to produce allyl chloride, epichlorohydrin and synthetic glycerin,
`
`which, in turn are and/or were used in connection with the manufacture of certain commercial
`
`products. TCP is also known as allyl trichloride, glycerol trichlorohydrin, and/or trichlorohydrin.
`
`Because only certain large-scale industrial chemical processes involving heat and chlorine produce
`
`TCP, only a few companies in the United States are the source of TCP.
`
`27.
`
`TCP is and/or was, among other things, an inert ingredient, impurity and/or
`
`manufacturing byproduct in certain soil fumigant products used to control nematodes (microscopic
`
`worms that infest plant roots) that were marketed primarily, although not exclusively, from the 19405
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`144
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`2O
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24:
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`6
`WNW2WWWW-,mmmmvmmmxmwmmW
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND OTHER RELIEF
`
`

`

`1
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`2O
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`through the 19805. The TCP present in TCP-containing soil fumigants had, and has, no beneficial
`
`purpose in connection with the application of such soil fumigants to crops.
`
`28.
`
`TCP is and/or was contained in certain other non-agricultural chemical products,
`
`including, but not limited to, some solvents and extractive agents.
`
`29.
`
`TCP has unique characteristics that cause extensive environmental contamination and a
`
`corresponding threat to the public health and welfare. In particular, TCP does not readily adsorb (i.e.,
`
`stick) to soil particles. Rather, once it is applied, discharged, disposed of or otherwise released into or
`
`onto land, it is readily transported through the subsurface and into groundwater. In addition, TCP is
`
`known to be persistent, i.e., it does not readily biodegrade or chemically degrade naturally in the
`
`subsurface. There is a lengthy delay, based on site specific factors, between the time TCP or products
`
`containing TCP are released into the subsurface environment and the time TCP accumulates in
`
`groundwater in sufficient quantities and locations to contaminate public drinking water resources. In
`
`short, TCP migrates readily through soil and groundwater, resists natural degradation, and is difficult
`
`and costly to remove from groundwater.
`
`30.
`
`TCP presents a significant threat to public health and welfare. TCP is known to cause
`
`liver and kidney damage and blood disorders in animals exposed to TCP via ingestion. TCP has also
`
`been shown to cause cancer in animals. It is listed by the United States Environmental Protection
`
`Agency as a probable human carcinogen and is known to the State of California to cause cancer for
`
`purposes of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.
`
`B.
`
`Regulatory Standards Applicable To TCP.
`
`31.
`
`No federal or state agency has approved TCP as an additive to drinking water. No
`
`federal or state agency has approved releasing or discharging TCP to groundwater.
`
`32.
`
`The Division of Drinking Water of the California State Water Resources Control Board
`
`(“DDW”), formerly part of the California Department of Public Health (“DPH”), is the state agency
`
`responsible for regulating public water systems, including Plaintiff’s Water System.
`
`7
`
`mWWWWWWWMM-.-.m-.-.c.w.---A-.-mwmm.MWm‘-...vm~mw
`. WWW .
`
`WWm.WWW.-.-.m-.-Mmmv
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND OTHER RELIEF
`
`

`

`33.
`
`At the request of DPH, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard
`
`Assessment established a Public Health Goal (PHG) for TCP in drinking water of 0.0007 ug/L, or 0.7
`
`parts per trillion (“ppt”). PHGs for carcinogens or other substances that may cause chronic disease are
`
`based solely on health effects and are set at a level that the State has determined, based on the best
`
`available toxicological data in the scientific literature, does not pose any significant risk to health.
`
`34.
`
`The State Water Resources Control Board (“SWRCB”), of which DDW is a division,
`
`has formally adopted a Maximum Contaminant Level (“MCL”) for TCP of 0.005 ug/L or 5 ppt. An
`
`MCL is an enforceable regulatory standard that establishes the maximum permissible level of a
`
`contaminant in drinking water. Plaintiff, as the owner/operator of a California public water system, is
`
`subject to, and required to comply with, the MCL for TCP.
`
`C.
`
`The Manufacturer Defendants’ Knowledge of TCP’s Hazards.
`
`35.
`
`The Manufacturer Defendants, each of whom has promoted the use of TCP Products,
`
`knew or should have known of the grave harm and threat to public health and welfare and the
`
`environment represented by proliferating use of this compound, including (among other things):
`
`widespread pollution of groundwater with TCP, contamination of public and private drinking water
`
`supplies by this harmful compound, drinking water supplies rendered unfit and unusable for
`
`consumption and increased costs to public water suppliers and their customers.
`
`36.
`
`The Manufacturer Defendants had a duty and breached their duty to evaluate and test
`
`such TCP Products adequately and thoroughly to determine their environmental fate and transport
`
`characteristics and potential human health and environmental impacts before they produced and sold
`
`such TCP Products. They also had a duty and breached their duty to minimize the environmental harm
`
`caused by TCP. The Manufacturer Defendants, and each of them, failed to adequately evaluate and test
`
`their TCP Products, or otherwise ensure that TCP would not contaminate drinking water. As a direct,
`
`indirect and proximate result of these failures, TCP contaminated, and continues to contaminate,
`
`Plaintiff‘s Water System and the groundwaters that supply it.
`
`WWMWMWWWWWWMW»WWN.
`
`8
`. .-.-.w.meMW.-mw.-.-W -,.-.\-.-.x-m“WWWAMWMWMWWWM‘wW
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND OTHER RELIEF
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14:
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`2O
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`

`

`37.
`
`At all times relevant to this action, the Manufacturer Defendants knew, or reasonably
`
`should have known, among other things, that: (a) TCP is toxic; and (b) when applied, discharged,
`
`disposed of or otherwise released into or onto land, TCP readily migrates through the subsurface,
`
`mixes easily with groundwater, resists natural degradation, renders drinking water unsafe and/or non—
`
`potable, and requires significant expenses to remove from public drinking water supplies.
`
`38.
`
`Despite knowing or having reason to know that long-term groundwater contamination,
`
`pollution of water supplies, and threats to public health and safety were inevitable consequences of the
`
`foreseeable and intended uses of their TCP Products without proper precautionary measures, including
`
`but not limited to adequate warnings, the Manufacturer Defendants nonetheless promoted, marketed
`
`and/or sold TCP Products in California and elsewhere.
`
`39.
`
`At all times relevant herein, the Manufacturer Defendants, and each of them, knew or
`
`should have known that feasible measures could have been implemented to remove or substantially
`
`reduce the amount of TCP in their finished TCP containing soil fumigant products without decreasing
`
`the ability of these products to control nematodes, but they failed to implement such measures.
`
`40.
`
`At all times relevant herein, the Manufacturer Defendants, and each of them, knew or
`
`should have known that TCP is a hazardous waste that should be disposed of safely and separately
`
`from non-hazardous wastes. Nonetheless, the Manufacturer Defendants caused or allowed TCP — a
`
`hazardous waste product created by their chemical manufacturing processes — to be included in their
`
`TCP Products, including soil fumigant products. The Manufacturer Defendants instructed users to
`
`apply their TCP-containing soil fumigant products to agricultural fields, where they knew or should
`
`have known that TCP would contaminate groundwater.
`
`41.
`
`Adequate warnings regarding the known and foreseeable risks of TCP could have
`
`prevented or mitigated the contamination and resulting damages alleged herein. Despite knowing or
`
`having reason to know of the risks to public drinking water resources posed by the discharge, disposal
`
`or release into or onto land of TCP Products, the Manufacturer Defendants unreasonably failed to
`
`9
`
`Mwtaam.MW-.-.tuwt‘Wmu-aM-NWWswaWaW‘W.WWMW.WWWW¢WWWWV _
`,, wwwfiwmwwwww
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND OTHER RELIEF
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24‘
`
`25
`
`26
`
`Q7
`
`28
`
`

`

`provide any adequate warnings regarding the known and foreseeable risks of TCP to customers, end-
`
`users, regulators, public officials and/or the public, including Plaintiff.
`
`42.
`
`In addition to the negligent and/or reckless conduct alleged herein, the Manufacturer
`
`Defendants, by agreement and/or tacit understanding among them, each knowingly pursued or took an
`
`active part in a common plan, design and/or conspiracy to market and/0r promote products they knew
`
`to be dangerous to the environment. In particular, these Defendants engaged in joint activity for the
`
`specific purpose of suppressing, concealing, and/or minimizing information regarding the toxicity and
`
`persistence of TCP. These Defendants’ common plan, design and/or conspiracy, and the acts taken in
`
`furtherance of such common plan, design and/or conspiracy, are a direct and proximate cause of the
`
`TCP contamination in Plaintiffs Water System.
`
`D.
`
`The, Impact of TCP on Plaintiff's Water System.
`
`43.
`
`TCP has been detected in varying amounts at varying times in water extracted from one
`
`or more of Plaintiff‘s wells (referred to herein as the “Contaminated Well(s)”). TCP has been detected
`
`and/or is present in the Contaminated Well(s) at levels substantially above the applicable PHG and/or
`
`MCL for TCP. The detection and/or presence of TCP, and the threat of further detection and/or
`
`presence of TCP, in the Contaminated Well(s) and in wells Plaintiff may acquire, use or construct in
`
`the future, in varying amounts and at varying times has resulted in, and will continue to cause,
`
`significant injuries and damages to the Contaminated Well(s) and Plaintiff’s Water System.
`
`44.
`
`The injuries to Plaintiff caused by Defendants’ conduct as alleged herein constitute an
`
`unreasonable interference with, and physical damage to, the limited subterranean supplies of fresh
`
`drinking water on which Plaintiffs Contaminated Well(s) depend. Plaintiff’ 3 interest in protecting the
`
`quality of its limited drinking water supplies constitutes a reason personal for seeking damages
`
`sufficient to restore such drinking water supplies to their pre-contamination condition.
`
`E.
`
`Summary of Allegations.
`
`45.
`
`At all times relevant to this action:
`
`10
`mW-AWKWWMWWWWWWWWMMWWWWWWmWW.m-¢MM~m-,.-mwmw.v.wW-m-.-.WW
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND OTHER RELIEF
`
`10
`
`11
`
`1Q
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`Q4
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`

`

`(a) The Manufacturer and Distributor Defendants, and each of them, sold,
`
`exchanged, supplied, distributed, delivered or otherwise provided (directly
`
`or indirectly) TCP Products to the Owner/Operator Defendants. Such
`
`sales, exchanges, supplies, distributions, deliveries and/or other provisions
`
`of TCP Products to the Owner/Operator Defendants occurred over time.
`
`(b) TCP Products purchased or otherwise acquired (directly or indirectly)
`
`from the Manufacturer and/or Distributor Defendants, and each of them,
`
`by the Owner/Operator Defendants were applied, discharged, disposed of
`
`or otherwise released into or onto lands in the vicinity of Plaintiff’s
`
`Contaminated Well(s). Such applications, discharges, disposals and/or
`
`releases of TCP occurred at various times, in varying quantities and in
`
`different locations.
`
`(0) TCP takes time to migrate from points of application, discharge, disposal
`
`and/or release to locations within the subsurface at which it has an
`
`appreciable impact on groundwater. TCP has over time migrated in the
`
`subSurface from various application, discharge, disposal and/or release
`
`points at or near the surface on lands in the vicinity of Plaintiffs
`
`Contaminated Well(s), causing pollution, contamination, and substantial and
`
`continuing damage to those Wells and the groundwaters that supply them,
`
`as well as wells Plaintiff may acquire, use or construct in the future, causing
`
`appreciable injury to Plaintiff and damaging Plaintiff at such times
`
`and in amounts to be proved at trial.
`
`46.
`
`At all times relevant to this action, TCP Products manufactured, sold, and/or released by
`
`Defendants caused and/or contributed to the TCP contamination alleged herein.
`
`»Wmmwwwww
`
`.
`
`,
`
`
`\wWWm-unvwvwwwwwmwmwv—M ,.
`
`ll
`Wm. WWW-mflm-W‘WWWWWWmum-mMW
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND OTHER RELIEF
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14:
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24c
`
`25
`
`Q6
`
`27
`
`28
`
`

`

`47.
`
`At all times relevant to this action, the TCP Products purchased or otherwise acquired
`
`by the Owner/Operator Defendants were TCP Products manufactured, marketed, distributed and/or
`
`sold by one or more of the Manufacturer and Distributor Defendants named herein.
`
`48.
`
`Defendants, and each of them, are jointly and severally liable for the damages
`
`alleged herein.
`
`FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
`
`(Strict Products Liability Based On Defective Design Against The Manufacturer and
`Distributor Defendants)
`
`49.
`
`Plaintiff realleges each of the preceding paragraphs, and by this reference incorporates
`
`each such paragraph as though set forth in full.
`
`50.
`
`The Manufacturer and Distributor Defendants, and each of them, designed,
`
`manufactured, formulated, promoted, marketed, distributed, and/or sold TCP Products.
`
`51.
`
`The Manufacturer and Distributor Defendants, and each of them, knew that such TCP
`
`Products were to be purchased and used without inspection for defects.
`
`52.
`
`TCP Products purchased or otherwise acquired (directly or indirectly) from the
`
`Manufacturer and/or Distributor Defendants, and each of them, by the Owner/Operator Defendants
`
`were applied, discharged, disposed of or otherwise released into or onto lands in the vicinity of
`
`Plaintiff’s Contaminated Well(s).
`
`53.~
`
`The TCP Products purchased by the Owner/Operator Defendants were used in a
`
`reasonably foreseeable manner and without substantial change in the condition of such TCP Products.
`
`54.
`
`Soil fumigant products containing TCP are, and at all relevant times

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket