Houston, TX: ExxonMobil is facing an environmental class action lawsuit over damage caused by the March 29 Pegusus Pipeline rupture and oil spill in Arkansas. The massive leak spewed at least 19,000 barrels of heavy Canadian crude oil into the streets, gardens and homes in the North Woods subdivision, forcing the evacuation of 22 homes.
The class action lawsuit alleges the pipeline was "in an unsafe, defective, and deficient condition presenting an immediate environmental harm."The lawsuit also raises concerns about the safety of the pipeline in the rest of Arkansas.
"This Arkansas class action lawsuit involves the worst crude oil and tar sands spill in Arkansas history and directly impacts all individuals who reside by the ExxonMobil Pegasus Pipeline,"the complaint states.
The lawsuit was filed by Kathryn Chunn and Kimla Greene in the US District Court in the Eastern District of Arkansas on behalf of themselves and others similarly affected. Plaintiffs are represented by the Duncan Firm and Thrash Law Firm, both of Arkansas.
"Plaintiffs bring this lawsuit to recover for a permanent diminishment in property value for being located near the unsafe and defective pipeline on behalf of all property owners similarly situated throughout the state of Arkansas who are in close proximity to the Pegasus Pipeline,"the lawsuit states.
