Environmental Toxic Tort in Anne Arundel County, Maryland (Gambrills)

The Washington Post reported that Constellation Energy had dumped pollutants (Cadmium and Thallium) from its Glen Burnie Maryland plant in Anne Arundel County Maryland's Gambrills neighborhood for years causing metals to leach into the groundwater and leaving residents with an unsafe water supply. This is unacceptable and maddening. If this is true, not only does it pose a tremendous health risk to the residents of Gambrills Greenleaf, but it also has a negative impact on property values (who would buy a house knowing that the ground water may be contaminated?). It would be another example of a big corporation putting profitability over safety.

There is no mention of any attorney representing the residents of Gambrills, and I am concerned that because Constellation Enegery is saying all the right things and giving the residents free bottled water, that the residents will not take appropriate, necessary and timely action to preserve their rights. The residents need to unite and hire environmental engineers and other experts to conduct surveys and studies immeidatley. What if the pollutants are found to cause birth defects? What if residents develop cancer because of the pollutants? The law imposes deadlines on bringing legal claims (typically called the statute of limitations) and if the Greenleaf residents do not act promptly, they could lose certain rights.

It is probable that corporate executives, risk management folk, and insurance companies that may have exposure for this disaster met and came up with a public relations strategy that will minimize their exposure and responsibility for this disaster. They may have determined that if we give these residents free bottled water and offer to fix some of their wells, then perhaps the residents will sit on their rights and fail to hire counsel and/or appropriate experts.

The affected Anne Arundel County, Maryland and Fort Meade residents are inconvenienced by having to use bottled water and take shorther showers, but more importantly, they may be exposed to toxic chemicals and other pollutants that may cause cancer, birth defects, kidney disease and possibly other unknown health risks. They deserve to be compensated for any proven injuries, emotional distress, inconvenience, medical monitoring, and the lost values of their real estate.

Legal theories that could be used in a case against those responsible for the pollution of their ground water supply include causes of action for negligence, trespass, nuisance and possibly fraud.

The attorneys at Goldberg, Finnegan & Mester, LLC fight for the rights of citizens against insurance companies. Call (301) 589-2999 x102 for a free consultation.