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Monday, October 8, 2012

Yellowstone Spill Results In Fresh Lawsuit Against Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)


Latest reports reveal that Exxon has managed to get involved in a fresh lawsuit over Yellowstone spill. More than 12 eastern Montana landowners have filed a case against Exxon Mobil Corporation(NYSE:XOM) accusing the company of having ignored warnings before a pipeline broke and spilled around 1,500 barrels of crude oil into Yellowstone River.

The lawsuit filed by property owners along the scenic waterway states that previous year’s spill could have been evaded if Exxon had followed the lead of other firms and shut down its pipeline during relentless flooding in July of 2011.

The 14 plaintiffs have said that they have suffered harm to their properties and livestock operations, health problems from exposure to oil and damage to wildlife. They are claiming indefinite compensation for their losses and disciplinary damages against Exxon to provide a deterrent against spills in future.

Jory Ruggiero of Western Justice Associated Law firm based in Bozeman, the plaintiff’s attorney said that Exxon should have known long before the spill took place that the river floods every spring and generates enormous erosive forces.

Patrick Henretty, Exxon Mobil spokesman said that the company had not received any lawsuit.

The case was filed in the State District Court of Gallatin County. Judge Holly Brown has been assigned to the case.
A second lawsuit that Exxon is facing is from another group of property owners. The case is pending in State District Court of Yellowstone County.

Exxon has received orders to turnover documents that are associated to the accident to attorneys in the Yellowstone County lawsuit by 22nd October.

As per estimations, 70 miles of the Yellowstone’s riverbank were polluted. Exxon Mobil invested about $135 million on cleanup work and upgrades to the pipeline where it overlaps the Yellowstone and other important waterways.

The Exxon spill has resulted in more property damage than all other accidents in Montana taken place in the last decade. 

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