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Pocono News Section
Trial Date Set For Laurel Gardens Lawsuit
Trial Date Set For Laurel Gardens Lawsuit - Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 09:35AM EST
Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 @ 09:35am EST
var images = new Array(); WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY - A trial date is now set to hear the case of a Luzerne County neighborhood contaminated by a massive underground gas spill.
More than 1,000 people from the Laurel Gardens neighborhood in Hazleton and Hazle Township are part of a class action lawsuit filed against 10 defendants.
The underground leak filled the neighborhood with the a chemical found in gasoline called benzene.
It was first detected in 1993.
The EPA traced the spill to 4 nearby gas stations and did a massive clean-up that included installing new sewer lines and ventilation systems to hundreds of homes and treating groundwater.
Neighbors say the spill made them sick and blame it for causing the deaths of some of their friends.
The lawsuit names, among others, the giant oil company ExxonMobil.
Attorneys for the oil company argue ExxonMobil is not responsible for the actual spill.
They blame the gas station owner of the former Tranguch Tire and Service Station for having tanks that leaked.
A trial date is set for November 3. | | |
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