On Monday, Oct. 19, 36 Tell City families and the City of Tell City together filed suit against General Electric (GE) in the Perry Circuit Court.

A press release from Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP (KDDK), the law firm representing the case, says that Many in the public were first informed of GE’s environmental contamination by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (“IDEM”) public notice in early 2017. According to KDDK, after "negotiations that commenced in March 2019 broke down over the summer," the lawsuit was filed.

KDDK says it was found in 2017 during GE’s environmental investigations that a nonflammable, colorless liquid called trichloroethylene (TCE) was "found to be migrating into groundwater beyond the boundary of GE's facility."

Excerpt from the lawsuit:
48. During ownership of the GE Site, Defendant and/or its employees, contractors, agents released TCE, solvents, and other contaminants into the sub slab soil and groundwater on, under or around the GE Site.

KDDK says this damaged the property value of homes of the properties of the 36 families, whose homes are in the area of the GE facility on 13th Street in Tell City. The lawsuit also alleges that the release of the "hazardous substances" posed "a risk to human health and the environment."

According to KDDK, "there has been no confirmation that such contamination plume is contained, which could mean a threat exists to additional Tell City residents, including City water supplies, public streets, and utilities."

KDDK's statement claims that the Tell City families and the City tried to settle the dispute without taking it to court, but that GE failed to comply.

The plaintiffs are seeking restitution for all past, current, and future costs and expenses. 

You can view the full lawsuit below.