The Muskogee (Okla.) Phoenix newspaper reports that a lawsuit in which three families claim the City of Muskogee and contractors were negligent in applying biosolids on farms appears to be headed for trial next month.
I am generally skeptical of the merits of complaints lawsuits involving biosolids because quite often they involve claims about health impacts that do not square with anything I know about biosolids and beneficial reuse practices. In this case the suit apparently alleges that material was not applied correctly, so that when it rained heavily, it washed off the farm field onto neighboring properties. Since I am not privy to all the facts of the case I am hardly qualified to assess the lawsuit’s merits.
In any case, three families claim that contractors Sludge Technologies and Tonto Construction applied more than 415 tons of biosolids during the nine days before the rains began. “The plaintiffs’ petition describes the sludge that spread across their land as ‘an oil slick or blacktop road, and it emitted an overpowering smell of sewage,’” according to the newspaper.
An attempt at settlement failed even after a report indicated that materials would not be a long-term source of contamination. The landowners seek damages for “loss of value and the use of their properties and personal injuries,” the news account said. It appears the city’s insurance policy would cover any damages the plaintiffs may receive.
More at http://muskogeephoenix.com/local/x403283360/Sludge-suit-trial-draws-near.
