BALTIMORE, MD.  — Today, the City of Baltimore took an important step towards reducing PCBs from the environment and waterways in Baltimore and Maryland. City Solicitor Andre M. Davis filed suit against Monsanto Company, Solutia, Inc., and Pharmacia LLC for monetary damages associated with PCB chemicals in the City’s stormwater and certain water bodies. The case number is 1:19-cv-00483.

The lawsuit marks the first of its kind on the east coast, and is the 15th of its kind nationally, a list that includes the cities of San Diego, Long Beach, Portland, and Seattle, and states that include Washington, Oregon, and Ohio. Baltimore’s suit alleges that at the time of manufacture and promotion, Monsanto knew its PCB chemicals are toxic, cannot be contained to their original applications, and do not degrade in nature. The lawsuit further alleges that PCB chemicals pose significant public health concerns, because PCBs bioaccumulate in fish, aquatic animals, and humans.

“Baltimore takes seriously the public and environmental health of the entire community. Our city’s rich history and culture includes healthy waterways,” said City Solicitor Andre M. Davis. “This lawsuit sends a strong message that the City will hold corporations accountable for  cleaning up their toxic messes. The taxpayers are not responsible for Monsanto’s bad acts.”
While the lawsuit does not demand a specific amount of money, City Solicitor Andre Davis confirmed he believes Monsanto has caused “at least tens of millions of dollars” in legal damages.

The City of Baltimore is represented by City Solicitor Andre Davis and Director of Affirmative Litigation Suzanne Sangree. The City is also represented by Scott Summy and John Fiske of Baron & Budd; Jay Eisenhofer and Kyle McGee of Grant & Eisenhofer; and Richard Gordon and Martin Wolf of Gordon, Wolf, and Carney.

For additional inquiries, please contact Suzanne Sangree at 443-388-2190 or John Fiske at 619-261-4090 or Fiske@BaronBudd.com.