New Jersey

PFAS Class Action Lawsuit Certified In New Jersey

Published

3 years ago

April 28, 2022

PFAS Class Action Lawsuit Certified In New Jersey

Associated Practices & Jurisdictions

Final week, the New Jersey state court docket licensed the Tomas Vera et al. v. Middlesex Water Co. (MID-L-6306-21, Superior Courtroom of New Jersey, Middlesex County) case as a category motion lawsuit. The plaintiffs are searching for damages from the native water firm, Middlesex Water Co., stemming from PFAS contamination of the county’s ingesting water provide. The PFAS class motion lawsuit is an attention-grabbing take a look at case that needs to be intently adopted by any water utility grappling with PFAS remediation points.

PFAS Class Motion Lawsuit

Within the Middlesex Water Co. case, the water utility at one level mailed native residents a letter indicating that the ingesting water sources had been contaminated with unsafe ranges of PFOA. The plaintiffs adopted the recommendation of the water firm and used bottled water, purchased water filters, and visited their docs for medical monitoring, all of which was paid for out-of-pocket. It’s these prices that they search in damages from the water firm.

Middlesex Water Co. challenged the category certification, arguing in essence that the plaintiffs claims are too dissimilar to proceed as a category. This is because of the truth that totally different plaintiffs could not have adopted the entire remedial measures suggested by Middlesex Water Co., some could have adopted all of them, some could have incurred extra bills than others, and the details of every plaintiffs’ case had been too totally different. The state court docket decide disagreed and located that the plaintiffs had met the required necessities for class certification.

Classes For Water Utilities

Previous to the lawsuit, Middlesex Water Co. started building on a brand new water plant to filter and remediate PFOA from space ingesting water sources. The utility additionally introduced its personal separate lawsuit in opposition to PFOA chemical producer 3M to recoup the prices of the brand new water plant, and any damages stemming from the Tomas Vera lawsuit may theoretically be added to the pending lawsuit in opposition to 3M.

Of significance for water utilities throughout the nation is the truth that the Middlesex Water Co. took many measures to alert residents to the PFOA points and offered options till the brand new water therapy plant building may end in 2023. Nonetheless, the corporate finds itself embroiled in expensive litigation. Whereas every state handles class motion certifications and damages points otherwise, the case could trigger some water utilities to contemplate providing to reimburse residents for out-of-pocket bills up entrance. Different firms could really feel that the alleged courses in future comparable lawsuits shouldn’t be granted class certification and should problem the certification request as Middlesex Water Co. did. Whatever the plan of action chosen, although, the vital takeaway is that water utilities should completely take into account ramifications of sending out discover letters just like the one despatched by Middlesex Water Co. with the intention to correctly plan for future monetary points.

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New Jersey

Surprising reason why this Democrat is attending Trump’s inauguration

Published

4 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Surprising reason why this Democrat is attending Trump’s inauguration

At least one big-name New Jersey Democrat will travel to D.C. for Donald Trump’s inauguration Monday.

Gov. Phil Murphy said he will be on hand to watch Trump take the oath of office a second time. That‘s even as several other top members of his party from across the country are skipping the event.

Murphy this week was asked to explain his decision compared to Democrats who feel their attendance would validate the Republican former and future president over Jan. 6 and other polarizing views and policies.

The governor said what convinced him to go was Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2020. Murphy said he and First Lady Tammy Murphy went and were surprised to see who was among the crowd.

“It was socially distanced, so it was not like your normal tableau,” Murphy told reporters at the Statehouse in Trenton on Monday. “We were struck by the amount of Republican governors who showed up. And not just by how many but who they were. Kristi Noem (of South Dakota), Doug Burgum (of North Dakota), Doug Ducey (of Arizona), Asa Hutchison (of Arkansas).

“It’s the right thing to do no matter all of the challenges and issues with Trump … and frankly, the big one to me is I just can’t believe the American people have given him a pass on denying that he lost four years ago. Still, I believe with all my heart it is still the right thing to do for the country and for the office.”

Democrats have cited numerous reasons for ditching Trump’s swearing-in Monday, whether it being the lingering uneasiness of Jan. 6, because the event is being held on Martin Luther King Day, or out of fear for their safety. Others have not said why they won’t be there.

The inauguration, usually held outside the U.S. Capitol, will instead be inside Monday because of freezing temperatures.

Murphy and Trump have long had a kind of love-hate relationship. The governor has repeatedly criticized Trump and fought his policies on immigration, guns, and taxes in court.

Still, the two collaborated on COVID-19 response and the Gateway Tunnel project during Trump’s first term. Murphy also visited Trump at his Bedminster golf club last summer after the assassination attempt on the ex-president. Then, after Trump won back the White House in November — and performed better than expected in blue New Jersey — Murphy said he got a phone call from Trump.

Murphy notes by the time he leaves office next January, he is the Democratic governor who will have served the longest under a Trump presidency, coming into office a year into Trump’s first term and exiting a year into his second.

That, Murphy argues, gives him a good perspective on how to handle Trump, even as Democrat sound alarms over what may happen to undocumented immigrants and reproductive rights under his new tenure. The governor has said he will “fight like hell” against Trump on some issues and try to find “common ground” on others.

That’s similar to stances that other Democratic governors have taken on Trump, who is famous for enjoying praise as much as he enjoys dishing out insults.

“I will never back away from partnering with the Trump administration where our priorities align,” Murphy said Tuesday during his latest State of the State address. “But just as importantly, I will never back down from defending our New Jersey values — if and when they are tested.”

To that end, Murphy said during the speech New Jersey will join other blue states in stockpiling a supply of medication used in abortions.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @johnsb01.

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New Jersey

New Jersey Titans pull ahead in the third to defeat Maryland Black Bears – The Rink Live

Published

12 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

The New Jersey Titans were victorious against the Maryland Black Bears on Friday, Jan. 16, 2025 at Middletown Ice World Arena.

After two periods, the teams were tied at 0, but New Jersey pulled away in the third, winning the game 2-0.

The Titans first took the lead early in the third period, with a goal from Owen Leahy, assisted by

James Schneid

and

Blake Jones

The Titans increased the lead to 2-0 with 52 seconds remaining of the third after a goal from James Schneid, assisted by

Nikita Meshcheryakov

and

Ryan Friedman

Next up:

The teams play again on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 at 6 p.m. CST at Middletown Ice World Arena.

New Jersey

Fmr. South Jersey camp director accused of sex assault released pending trial

Published

20 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Fmr. South Jersey camp director accused of sex assault released pending trial

Friday, January 17, 2025 10:53PM

Fmr. camp director accused of sex assault released pending trial

A former South Jersey camp director accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy is out of jail.

DEPTFORD TWP., N.J. (WPVI) — A former South Jersey camp director accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy is out of jail.

Forty-six-year-old Tara Carr, of Woodstown, is accused of assaulting the 14-year-old four times last year and sending him inappropriate videos and photos.