The Superior Court of New Jersey’s Appellate Division affirmed a class action certification in a lawsuit that claims homeowners in two New Jersey towns suffered home value reductions after what they allege is “abnormally dangerous and hazardous chemicals” in the groundwater by company Hoffman-LaRoche.
The plaintiffs have not stated any health or safety concerns related to the contamination. The claim is related to a notification failure, under the Classification Exception Area, where residents were not properly notified that groundwater sources are unfit for certain uses.
Hoffman-LaRoche closed their 118-acre research facility in 2013. The company has filed third-party complaints against nearly 30 other companies as it says they also contributed to the groundwater contamination. Some of these include Shell Oil and Lockheed Martin. Hoffman-LaRoche fought the certification due to their claim the lower court granted the certification improperly by failing to analyze the evidence.
This blog is intended to provide information to the general public and to practitioners about developments that may impact Oregon class actions.