Two Companies Settle Over San Jacinto River Waste Pits, Jury Clears Lone Holdout of Liability
HOUSTON -- Harris County's years-long legal battle to wring billions of dollars out of companies the county says are responsible for the San Jacinto River's toxic legacy ended with whimper Thursday. Following a four-week trial, Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan's office settled with two of three defendants just as the case was set to go to closing arguments. The two companies agreed to pay $29.2 million, which, after attorneys fees and expenses, amounts to just $20 million that will be split between the state and county -- a far cry from the $3.7 billion the county initially sought in its lawsuit.
Mix in the fact that after the settlement was reached a jury cleared the lone holdout company of any responsibility, and it's hard to chalk this up as a clear win for the county in its bold fight to make companies pay fouling the San Jacinto River.
In 2011 Ryan sued the three major companies -- Houston-based Waste Management, McGinnes Industrial Maintenance Corp., and International Paper Co. -- saying they were responsible for cancer-causing dioxins that seeped out of waste pits and into the river system for decades.
Waste Management and McGinnes struck a last-minute deal with the county Thursday, while International Paper opted for a jury verdict. The jury voted 10-2 in favor of the company. Ryan's office on Thursday said it would appeal the jury's decision.
Read more: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/news/2014/11/two_companies_settle_over_san_jacinto_river_waste_pits_jury_clears_lone_holdout_of_liability.php
