Disputing Claims of Causing Philadelphia Oil Spills

Disputing Claims of Causing Philadelphia Oil Spills

Oil spills can cause major environmental disasters, so companies accused of causing them better lawyer up. That’s what happened in Philadelphia recently when some oil spills caused major headaches. Companies got blamed, lawyers battled it out in court, and there was a whole mess of finger pointing. Let’s break it down so you know what really went down, and how companies tried defending themselves when they got sued.

What Happened

There were a couple of oil spills that polluted Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River over the past few years. In June 2019, a fire at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) oil refinery led to explosions and over 5,000 pounds of hydrofluoric acid getting released. That’s some nasty stuff that can cause serious health problems if people breathe it in or touch it. The refinery ended up closing after the accident, but not before unleashing toxic chemicals into the air and water. Major bummer.

Then in August 2020, a pipeline owned by Sunoco (Energy Transfer) ruptured and spilled over 4,000 gallons of gasoline into the river. Not cool. The pipeline had a history of problems, including over 200 leaks since it opened in the 1930s. You’d think they would maintain that thing better, right?

Well, the spills caused some major outrage. No one wants oil and chemicals floating down the river and causing harm. So lawsuits started flying. The city, state, and federal agencies all sued the companies for violating environmental laws. They wanted serious cash to clean up the mess.

Company Defenses

The companies tried defending themselves, but it wasn’t easy. PES claimed the fire wasn’t their fault, and that they followed protocol during the disaster. But critics said the refinery had a history of safety issues, like this OSHA report showed. The company ended up filing for bankruptcy and shutting down.

Sunoco also tried denying responsibility. They said the pipeline leak was “an anomaly” and claimed they met safety standards. But people pointed to the pipeline’s long history of problems, like this PHMSA database shows. The company blamed some leaks on groundwater erosion and other technical causes. But they still got slammed with lawsuits.

The cases are still ongoing, but it shows what a legal mess these spills caused. Companies try passing the blame, while agencies want them to pay for cleanups. Expect more finger pointing and legal battles ahead.

Preparing a Defense

If your company caused an environmental disaster, get ready for lawsuits galore. There are a ton of state and federal laws you could violate, like the Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and more. Plaintiffs will dig up any past safety issues to show you’re negligent. Be ready to defend your practices.

You can try arguing the disaster was an unpreventable accident. But if you have a history of spills or violations, that’ll be tough. Saying you followed protocol or met industry standards may also fall short. Plaintiffs will find any past mistakes and claim you didn’t do enough.

Your best bet is to show you’re fixing the problem. Implement new safety measures and maintenance plans. Cooperate fully with investigators and agencies. Settle lawsuits quickly to avoid drawn out court battles. Take responsibility and work to prevent future disasters. That looks better than denying fault or blaming other factors.

Dealing with oil spills is no fun for anyone. Companies have to balance safety, regulations, profits, and so much more. If an accident happens, expect legal hell. There will be lawsuits, negotiations, settlements, and tons of expenses. It’s messy. All you can do is prepare your defense, admit mistakes, and work to improve. That’s better than futile finger-pointing.

This stuff’s complicated, so talk to an environmental lawyer if you face spill claims. They can dig into the details and build your defense case by case. It’ll cost ya, but it’s worth it to avoid massive legal and cleanup bills down the road. Be ready for a fight, but also to make things right. That’s the best approach if you ever face claims of causing one of these oily disasters.