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U.S. Federal judge allows lawsuit about radiation to go ahead

Federal judge allows Lakeland radiation lawsuit against Drummond Co. to go forward,  The Ledger, By Suzie Schottelkotte , 20 Apr 18, 

TAMPA — In a ruling released late Thursday, a federal judge again has determined that a lawsuit against the developer of the Grasslands and Oakbridge communities in Lakeland alleging radiation contamination in the soil will go forward.

U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich rejected all of Alabama-based Drummond Co.’s arguments cited in a motion to dismiss, and ruled that lawyers for two residents have alleged enough facts to support their claims of residual gamma radiation from Drummond’s phosphate mining and subsequent reclamation in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The lawsuit alleges that gamma radiation levels in the two developments have been measured at 11 to 21 times that of federal acceptable risk levels. It seeks compensation for cleaning up the contamination and a medical-monitoring program for residents in the 1,400-acre development.

Lawyers for the residents intend to seek class-action status in the lawsuit, which would allow anyone impacted by the alleged contamination to share in a monetary verdict if the residents prevail in court. The residents are represented by a consortium of six law firms led by the Houston-based Lanier Law Firm. ……http://www.theledger.com/news/20180420/federal-judge-allows-lakeland-radiation-lawsuit-against-drummond-co-to-go-forward

April 22, 2018 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, USA