Settlement reached in Mountaire Farms violations
DOVER, Del. – A long-standing legal battle over contaminated groundwater in Sussex County finally has a resolution. On Thursday, a Wilmington based law firm announced that Mountaire Farms is making good on a settlement reached in November by paying more than 100 Sussex County residents, who claim they were affected by the poultry company spraying contaminated wastewater.
The residents claim Mountaire created major health problems for them because the contaminated wastewater, which had illegally high levels of nitrates, polluted water in Millsboro.
The settlement between Mountaire and 106 Sussex County residents is now fully funded, meaning those affected have gotten their money. However, Mountaire has not admitted any wrong doing. What we don’t know is how much money Mountaire paid in this settlement because of an agreement between them and the law firm.
Thursday’s announcement comes almost two years after a Wilmington based law firm filed suit against the poultry company. The attorneys claim the wastewater that Mountaire sprayed caused very serious health problems, even birth defects.
The Wilmington firm released the following statement on Thursday: “This settlement allows our clients to hopefully turn the page and continue on with their lives. We thank Mountaire for doing the right thing and recognizing that these families, many of whom lived in the shadow of the Mountaire plant, deserved compensation. At the mutual request of the parties the terms of the settlement are confidential…We’re happy we were able to reach an agreement that allows our clients to receive deserved compensation. This was only made possible because the community rallied together and offered us the privilege of fighting for them in court. We’re happy our clients are able to move forward and ensure that they and their families are both protected and compensated for the problems with their drinking water.”
47 ABC also reached out to Mountaire and they said, “Unfortunately, due to confidentiality agreements and an ongoing gag order, we aren’t able to comment.”
The settlement was reached back in November, however it has now been fully funded, and the two lawsuits that have been pending in Superior Court since 2018 have been dismissed.
In the complaint, residents say the company sprayed chemicals around their factory that seeped into the groundwater and wells of nearby residents.
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