`
`.
`
`.
`
`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