Class-Action Lawsuit Filed Over Michigan Water Pollution

Water activists filed a class-action lawsuit this month contending that three companies contributed to water pollution in Michigan.

Along with Wolverine Worldwide, “the lawsuit also named 3M Corporation, which produced the Scotchgard for Wolverine Worldwide to waterproof the leather in its shoes, and Waste Management Inc., because it operates a landfill where some of the contaminated material was dumped,” The Detroit News reported.

“The suit seeks immediate blood testing, monitoring and damage for people who have been harmed by water contamination after the Wolverine dumped waste at more than 75 sites in Kent County," the Detroit Free Press reported.

Shoe manufacturer Wolverine Worldwide came under fire for polluting drinking water in Michigan, this year. As Water Online’s Peter Chawaga reported, samples have shown perfluorinated compound contamination at 400 times above U.S. EPA-advised limits.

“The lawsuit was filed on December 1 in the U.S. District Court Western District, naming eight plaintiffs, each identified as current or former residents affected by the contamination of drinking water in the area. It claims the federal court has jurisdiction in the case under the Class Action Fairness Act because the total claims of class members exceed $5 million,” MLive reported.

Water activist Erin Brockovich is working closely with the legal team, The Detroit News reported.

“What saddens me is the breach of trust that these people feel,” Brockovich told The Detroit News. “It’s a kick in the gut to go buy a house, you are on well water, you have faith or trust in the system or the developer or a company upstream that they are doing the right thing.”

Per MLive, Wolverine Worldwide did not offer comment.

Waste Management responded: "Waste Management is aware of the class action lawsuit being filed and will respond accordingly via the court system.”

An attorney responded on behalf of 3M: "Under Michigan law, we believe 3M has no liability for any damages allegedly caused by Wolverine's manufacturing and waste disposal practices. 3M never manufactured or disposed of PFC-containing materials in Michigan. We believe this lawsuit lacks merit."

For similar stories visit Water Online’s Source Water Contamination Solutions Center.