Ed Masry & Erin Brockovich
When Erin Brockovich and Ed Masry of the famous California law firm Masry & Vititoe needed to partner with a firm in New York, they chose the attorneys with the best credentials and the most recommendations: Faraci Lange.
In late 2000 and early 2001, Erin Brockovich and Ed Masry of Masry & Vititoe were contacted by two separate groups of concerned citizens in upstate New York regarding toxic contamination of their homes and neighborhoods.
Ed Masry of Masry & Vititoe when he, Erin Brockovich and Steve Schwarz of Faraci Lange met with residents concerned about toxic pollutants in their neighborhood. The firms continue to work together in upstate New York.
Taking on industrial giants…
One of the sites was in Brockport, New York and concerned groundwater contamination with organic solvents including TCE by General Electric Company and Black & Decker and surface water and sediment contamination with PCBs and PAHs by the same companies as well as cyanide contamination by a third company 3M. The second matter involved drinking water contamination with organic solvents, including TCE, again by General Electric Company from its former plant located near Auburn, New York.
After conducting an initial investigation and determining the serious nature of these two contamination sites, Erin and Ed began a search for a New York law firm to partner with in order to pursue these two potential cases. After doing extensive research and contacting attorneys around the country for recommendations, Erin and Ed chose Faraci Lange. Since that time the two firms have worked closely together in filing suit against GE, Black & Decker and 3M in the Brockport matter and GE in the Auburn matter.
…and cleaning up
In late 2003, a resolution was reached with 3M in the Brockport matter and, in late 2007, the matter was resolved with GE and Black & Decker. As a direct result of the lawsuit, over 17 tons of soil contaminated with PCBs, PAHs and cyanide were removed from the creek bed and flood plain of a small creek located in a residential neighborhood just north of the former industrial plants.
Litigation in the Auburn case is proceeding and a trial is expected in 2009.
An ongoing investigation
In 2003, the two firms began an investigation of a third case in Endicott, New York involving groundwater contamination and what is called “vapor intrusion” in the town of Endicott, New York. Organic Solvents, including TCE and PCE which entered the groundwater from the former IBM plant, were being released by the groundwater as toxic vapors and entering homes, businesses, churches and schools in this small upstate village. In January 2008, the two firms together with five others commenced litigation in New York State Supreme Court against IMB on vehalf of the victims of this toxic chemical exposure. Litigation in this case, Blaine v. IBM, is proceeding. The Blaine case involves 88 Endicott residents. Five more lawsuits have been filed by hundreds of other Endicott residents since January.
