Lead in Drinking Water: Class Action Filed by Fresno Families

Boucher, LLP has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of residents of Northeast Fresno, California, alleging that the City of Fresno, California and private contractors caused dangerous levels of lead and other toxic substances to leach into their water supply. The lawsuit asks for a jury trial. As an ABC News affiliate reports:

</p> <p>The plaintiffs allege that in 2004, the City of Fresno changed the residential water supply from groundwater to surface water, altering the water chemistry despite clear warnings from consultants who said the change would result in pipe corrosion, causing lead to contaminate the city’s drinking water.</p> <p>Thousands of Northeast Fresno area residents were further affected when, between 2008 and 2012, the city and their private contractors installed water meters on properties, improperly connecting brass meters to galvanized piping. The brass to galvanized piping connection violated industry standards, accelerating corrosion of pipes that increased the risk of lead contamination.</p> <p>When complaints of discolored water first surfaced from the community — beginning as early as 2004 — the city and other governmental agencies ignored them. Instead of investigating and finding a solution, the City of Fresno assured residents that their water was safe. Yet, the city failed to test the water and ignored its responsibility to report the complaints to the State Water Resources Board as required.</p> <p>The EPA standard for lead in water is 15 parts per billion (ppb). According to city testing, forty percent of Fresno homes tested had water that exceeded the acceptable level. The EPA says* lead exposure, especially in children, can lead to damage of the nervous system, hyperactivity, lower IQ, learning disabilities, impaired hearing and anemia. In rare cases, exposure to lead in water can cause seizures, coma and potentially death. Pregnant women and their unborn children are also at risk for “slow or low growth” of the baby or premature birth.</p> <p>Diminished home values are also a concern. In court documents, the residents allege lead contamination has substantially decreased the value of their homes, diminishing their residential investment and making it difficult to sell their property. They have sustained other economic damages as well, paying the city for contaminated water while purchasing bottled water for drinking, cooking and bathing.</p> <p>On behalf of tens of thousands of affected Northeast Fresno, CA residents, the class action complaint asks the Court to require the city to solve the water treatment plant problems, and abide by its duties to residents to, among other things, provide clean and safe water.</p> <p>The class action also names as defendants the City of Fresno, the City of Fresno’s Department of Public Utilities, and private contractors retained by the city.</p> <p>Read the Complaint <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3105384-NE-Fresno-water-lawsuit-9-9-2016.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p>Read news articles about the lawsuit <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-water-idUSKCN11G08J?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>, <a href="http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article101012247.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-city-of-fresno-over-tainted-water-in-northeast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> </article> </section> </main> <footer id="footer" class="pagefooter"> <aside id="footer-info"> <div class="footerspacerleft"></div> <div class="footerspacerfixed"></div> <div id="footer-contact"> <div class="footerleft"> <div class="office-details logo"> <div class="footer-logo"> <a href="/"> <noscript><img src="https://boucher.la/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BOUCHER_LLP_logo.svg" alt="BOUCHER LLP Logo" width="300" height="28"></noscript><img class="lazyload" src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20300%2028%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src="https://boucher.la/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BOUCHER_LLP_logo.svg" alt="BOUCHER LLP Logo" width="300" height="28"> </a> </div> </div> <div class="office-details address"> <ul class="row nolist"> <div id="footer-contact-blocks"> <ul class="address-blocks nolist "> <li class="sig-address"> <p> <span class="footer-address">21600 W Oxnard Street Suite 600<br />Woodland Hills, CA 91367</span> </p> <p><a class="primary footerPhone" href="tel:+18183405400">818.340.5400</a> </p> <p><a class="btn blackonwhite" href="/contact/" alt="Contact Us">Contact Boucher LLP</a></p> <p><a href="/areas-we-serve/" class="primary graylink">Areas We Serve</a></p> </li> <li class="sig-address"> <p> <span class="footer-address">555 Montgomery St. Ste 1205<br />San Francisco, CA 94111</span> </p> <p><a class="primary footerPhone" href="tel:+18183405400">818.340.5400</a> </p> <p><a class="btn blackonwhite" href="/contact/" alt="Contact Us">Contact Boucher LLP</a></p> <p><a href="/areas-we-serve/" class="primary graylink">Areas We Serve</a></p> </li> </ul> </div> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="footerright"> <a href="/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RayBoucherClayAward2022-1.pdf"><noscript><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/8039-Raymond-Boucher-TOP-CLAY-BADGE-1.png" alt="Clay Award Logo"></noscript><img class="lazyload" src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20210%20140%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/8039-Raymond-Boucher-TOP-CLAY-BADGE-1.png" alt="Clay Award Logo"></a><br> <noscript><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-Public-Justice-Member-Logo.png" alt="2023 Public Justice Member"></noscript><img class="lazyload" src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20210%20140%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-Public-Justice-Member-Logo.png" alt="2023 Public Justice Member"><br> <noscript><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/LF-Patron-Lockdown-2023.jpg" alt="AAJ Leaders Forum Patro 2023"></noscript><img class="lazyload" src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20210%20140%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/LF-Patron-Lockdown-2023.jpg" alt="AAJ Leaders Forum Patro 2023"><br> <noscript><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/av-preeminent.jpg" alt="2023 AV Preeminent Badge"></noscript><img class="lazyload" src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20210%20140%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/av-preeminent.jpg" alt="2023 AV Preeminent Badge"><br> <a href="https://www.lawdragon.com/guides/2023-02-24-the-2023-lawdragon-500-leading-plaintiff-consumer-lawyers" target="_blank">2023 LAWDRAGON LEGENDS AWARD</a> </div> </div> <div class="footerright"></div> </aside> <div class="footer-legal"> <div class="footerspacerleft"></div> <div class="footerspacerfixed"></div> <p class="disclaimer">The information contained on our website is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content and features on this site do not create, and are not intended to create, an attorney-client relationship, and should not be construed as legal advice. Our prior results, including successful judgments and settlements in certain cases, do not guarantee a similar outcome in other cases. Each case is unique. No representations, testimonials, or endorsements on this web site constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of any case. © 2023 BOUCHER LLP. All Rights Reserved.</p> <div class="footerright"></div> </div> </footer> <div id="inline" class="lity-hide"> <div class="form"> <div class='gf_browser_unknown gform_wrapper gform_legacy_markup_wrapper gform-theme--no-framework' data-form-theme='legacy' data-form-index='0' id='gform_wrapper_2' ><div id='gf_2' class='gform_anchor' tabindex='-1'></div><form method='post' enctype='multipart/form-data' target='gform_ajax_frame_2' id='gform_2' action='/news/lead-in-drinking-water-class-action-filed-by-fresno-families/#gf_2' data-formid='2' > <div class='gform-body gform_body'><ul id='gform_fields_2' class='gform_fields top_label form_sublabel_below description_below'><li id="field_2_5" class="gfield gfield--type-html gfield_html gfield_html_formatted gfield_no_follows_desc field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_2_5"><span class="form-title">Contact Us for a Consultation</span></li><li id="field_2_1" class="gfield gfield--type-text gf_left_half gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below hidden_label gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_2_1"><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2_1' >Name<span class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_asterisk">*</span></span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_1' id='input_2_1' type='text' value='' class='large' placeholder='Name' aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false" /> </div></li><li id="field_2_2" class="gfield gfield--type-email gf_right_half gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below hidden_label gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_2_2"><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2_2' >Email<span class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_asterisk">*</span></span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_email'> <input name='input_2' id='input_2_2' type='text' value='' class='large' placeholder='Email' aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false" /> </div></li><li id="field_2_3" class="gfield gfield--type-phone gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below hidden_label gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_2_3"><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2_3' >Phone<span class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_asterisk">*</span></span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_phone'><input name='input_3' id='input_2_3' type='text' value='' class='large' placeholder='Phone' aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false" /></div></li><li id="field_2_4" class="gfield gfield--type-textarea field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below hidden_label gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_2_4"><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2_4' >Description</label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_textarea'><textarea name='input_4' id='input_2_4' class='textarea medium' placeholder='Tell us about your case...' aria-invalid="false" rows='10' cols='50'></textarea></div></li></ul></div> <div class='gform_footer top_label'> <button type='submit' id='gform_submit_button_2' class='gform_button button' onclick='if(window["gf_submitting_2"]){return false;} window["gf_submitting_2"]=true; ' onkeypress='if( event.keyCode == 13 ){ if(window["gf_submitting_2"]){return false;} window["gf_submitting_2"]=true; jQuery("#gform_2").trigger("submit",[true]); }'>Contact Us<i class="fa fa-refresh"></i></button> <input type='hidden' name='gform_ajax' value='form_id=2&title=&description=&tabindex=0' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='is_submit_2' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submit' value='2' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_unique_id' value='' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='state_2' value='WyJbXSIsImFmMzA5ZTM1MGQyMTgyMzUzYTVhMjMwMmI3NjJkZmFlIl0=' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_target_page_number_2' id='gform_target_page_number_2' value='0' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_source_page_number_2' id='gform_source_page_number_2' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' name='gform_field_values' value='' /> </div> <p style="display: none !important;"><label>Δ<textarea name="ak_hp_textarea" cols="45" rows="8" maxlength="100"></textarea></label><input type="hidden" id="ak_js_1" name="ak_js" value="75"/></p></form> </div> <iframe style='display:none;width:0px;height:0px;' src='about:blank' name='gform_ajax_frame_2' id='gform_ajax_frame_2' title='This iframe contains the logic required to handle Ajax powered Gravity Forms.'>