We held two free legal clinics in Clairton, Pa to help residents involved in a class action lawsuit against U.S. Steel navigate the complex decision making process
We are not involved in any lawsuit against U.S. Steel
nor do we have any relationships with any of the parties involved.
The Problem
This class action lawsuits could impact 5600 residents in a low-income community with limited access to affordable or free legal support to help them through the decision making process.
The solution
We held two free legal clinics where residents could get general information about the lawsuit and private 1-on-1 time with our attorneys to answer their questions and/or help them fill out their paper work.
Background
U.S. Steel’s Clairton Plant is North America’s largest coke works and one of Allegheny County’s largest industrial polluters. It is one part of the U.S. Steel Mon Valley works made up of: Edger Thompson Plant, Irving Works, and the Clairton Plant
For over 100 years these facilities have provided the area with both skilled labor careers and hazardous pollution according to those who live in the area. Data indicates that communities surrounding the plants have a much higher risk of health issues like asthma, COPD, and cancer. The map below is provided by the EPA and shows cancer risk around the Mon Valley Works is often in the 95th percentile.
Despite this troubling health data, the lawsuit in question does not pertain to health risks caused by the Clairton Plant.
The Lawsuit
In May of 2017, residents filed a class action lawsuit against U.S. Steel for releases of pollution that caused property damage and loss of property value due to the fact that they had to stay in their homes and could not realize the full enjoyment of their property.
A class action lawsuit is a procedure that permits one or more plaintiffs to file a lawsuit on behalf of a larger number of people who have experienced the same or similar harm. This type of action is considered more manageable for the court system than if each individual filed a separate lawsuit addressing the same wrong at the hands of the defendant. Class action lawsuits also allow for recovery in situations where the amount recoverable is too small to warrant individual suits.
On November 27th, 2019, a proposed settlement agreement was reached between representatives for U.S. Steel and a group of Clairton, Glassport, Elizabeth and Liberty residents.
The clinics
Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services in partnership with Clean Water Action, Women for a Healthy Environment and the Clean Air Council held two free legal clinics to provide critical information and 1-on-1 time with an attorney for some 5600 residents.
The clinics were designed to answer their questions about how the settlement could work for (or against) them if it is finalized and provide basic information like deadlines for decision making and also personalized support. Over a total of 11 hours we were able to sit down with more than 150 individuals and provide them with assistance such as advice, explanation of legal terms, instructions on how to be included in or excluded from the suit, and/or how to file a suit of their own.
These residents have until January 20, 2020, to opt out of this agreement and until February 3, 2020 to mail in their claim form for settlement payment. If residents want to submit objections or support of the settlement the must do so in writing by January 20, 2020 and only can do so if they have not opted out of the settlement. Objections will be heard at a Fairness Hearing on February 24, 2020 at 10am at the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Courtroom 820, City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219. All documents that were mailed are also available at the Liddle & Dubin, P.C. website: https://www.ldclassaction.com/clairton/.
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Other lawsuits against the Clairton Plant:
HERNANDEZ v. US STEEL CORPORATION
Filed: April 2019
Status: In litigation
Type: Class Action/Health Impacts
This class action suite deals with the health impacts of a fire at the U.S. Steel’s Clairton Plant on Dec. 24th, 2018 that destroyed “a building as big as a football field and knocking out the “desulfurization” system…used to remove sulfurous byproducts from the gases emitted to air.”
US STEEL CORPORATION V. ACHD (MULTIPLE APPEALS)
Filed: 2017-2019
Status: Settlement Pending
Type: Appeal of Multiple Enforcement Orders
This case is made up of numerous enforcement orders issued by the Allegheny County Health Department and the appeals filed by the United States Steel Corporation. The enforcement orders pertain to a number of violations by the Clairton Plant for emissions and requirements laid out by the Health Department to resolve the issues that were the cause of these unauthorized emissions.
