Working With Morgan & Morgan
In 2016, Kennedy became counsel to the Morgan & Morgan law firm.] The partnership arose from the two firms' successful collaboration on the case against SoCalGas Company following the Aliso Canyon gas leak in California.
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Morgan & Morgan is primarily a personal injury-focused firm, so their expertise was a perfect combination with Kennedy and Madonna's specialization in environmental law - as the team worked together to prosecute cases centered upon harms caused by environmental toxins and similar corporate failures.
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In addition to the Aliso Canyon case the team has worked on a couple of other especially groundbreaking cases including:
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Suing the Monsanto Company for the harms caused by its popular weedkiller Roundup. (2017) [This topic will probably ultimately get its own page here too. ]
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Taking on Columbia Gas of Masachusetts for the lethal gas explosions caused by its poorly maintained infrastructure.
Morgan & Morgan's basic corporate logo
John Morgan founder of the firm
Aliso Canyon Gas Leak
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In October 2015, the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility near Porter Ranch, California, experienced a catastrophic gas leak, releasing approximately 100,000 tons of methane over 118 days. This incident, considered the largest methane leak in U.S. history, led to widespread health issues and the displacement of thousands of residents.
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Legal Actions and Representation
In response to the disaster, environmental attorneys Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kevin J. Madonna, through their firm Kennedy & Madonna, LLP, collaborated with Morgan & Morgan and other law firms to represent the affected residents. This partnership aimed to hold Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and its parent company, Sempra Energy, accountable for the leak.
Aliso Canyon in California
Key Events and Developments
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Initial Lawsuits:
The first personal injury lawsuit was filed against SoCalGas on December 12, 2015, marking the beginning of extensive litigation efforts.
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Formation of Legal Coalition:
Kennedy & Madonna joined forces with Morgan & Morgan, Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, and the R. Rex Parris Law Firm to represent the victims, leveraging their combined expertise in environmental and personal injury law.
Settlement Agreement:
After nearly six years of litigation, SoCalGas and Sempra Energy agreed to a settlement of up to $1.8 billion in September 2021 to resolve the claims of over 35,000 victims. This settlement is among the largest for a public utility in U.S. history.
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Legal Challenges and Sanctions
Throughout the litigation, SoCalGas and its legal representatives faced criticism for their handling of document production and discovery processes. In February 2020, a California judge overseeing the case expressed regret for trusting the company's attorneys, citing issues with privilege claims and document disclosures.
Past and current logos of SoCalGas
Health and Environmental Impact
The prolonged gas leak exposed residents to hazardous chemicals, including benzene, leading to health issues such as headaches, nausea, respiratory problems, and nosebleeds. The incident also caused significant environmental damage due to the massive release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
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Community Response
The affected communities, particularly Porter Ranch, experienced significant disruption, with thousands of families evacuated and schools temporarily closed. Community advocacy groups, such as Save Porter Ranch, played a crucial role in bringing attention to the residents' plight and pushing for accountability and remediation.​
Conclusion
The Aliso Canyon gas leak case underscores the critical importance of corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship. The collaborative legal efforts led by Kennedy & Madonna, Morgan & Morgan, and their partners were instrumental in securing a historic settlement, providing relief to thousands of affected residents and highlighting the need for stringent safety measures in industrial operations.
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In 2016, Kennedy became counsel to the Morgan & Morgan law firm.[88] The partnership arose from the two firms' successful collaboration on the case against SoCalGas Company following the Aliso Canyon gas leak in California.
(AI version of) The relief well at the Aliso plant
Morgan & Morgan & Kennedy vs. Monsanto
In 2017, Kennedy and his partners sued Monsanto in federal court in San Francisco, on behalf of plaintiffs seeking to recover damages for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases that, the plaintiffs allege, were a result of exposure to Monsanto's glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup. Kennedy and his team also filed a class action lawsuit against Monsanto for failing to warn consumers about the dangers allegedly posed by exposure to Roundup.
corporate logos of the involved corporations
V. Columbia Gas of Massachusetts
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On September 13, 2018, a series of natural gas explosions and fires devastated the Merrimack Valley communities of Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover in Massachusetts. The incident resulted in one fatality, numerous injuries, and extensive property damage, displacing thousands of residents.
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Mr Kennedy and his partners became involved and filed a class-action lawsuit against Columbia Gas of Massachusetts alleging that the business' negligence led to the lethal gas explosions in three towns north of Boston.
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"As they build new miles of pipe, the same company is ignoring its existing infrastructure, which we now know is eroding and is dilapidated".
- RFK Jr.
Andover(esque), Massachusetts
Massachusetts Gas Explosions - Incident Overview
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Date: September 13, 2018
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Affected Areas: Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, Massachusetts
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Impact: One death, approximately 25 injuries, over 100 buildings damaged or destroyed, and thousands displaced.
Legal Actions and Settlement
In response to the disaster, multiple class-action lawsuits were filed against Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and its parent company, NiSource Inc., alleging negligence in maintaining and operating the gas pipeline infrastructure. These lawsuits culminated in a significant settlement:
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Settlement Amount: $143 million
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Announcement Date: July 29, 2019
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Purpose: To compensate residents and businesses for losses incurred due to the explosions.
The settlement aimed to address various damages, including property destruction, displacement costs, and emotional distress. Elizabeth Graham, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs, emphasized the importance of the settlement in aiding the community's recovery:
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"Families suffered for months in the gripping cold. Businesses shuttered, and lives were upended. To this day, the people most impacted by the explosions are not fully back on their feet, but we believe this settlement is the quickest and most just method to ensure that residents and businesses are made whole again."
Despite the settlement's approval, the distribution of funds faced delays. By December 2022, thousands of residents were still awaiting compensation. John Roddy, one of the lead attorneys on the lawsuit, acknowledged the delays and assured that checks would be issued promptly:
"Thousands of Merrimack Valley residents have had to wait over a year for their compensation checks from the multimillion-dollar class-action lawsuit against Columbia Gas after the region's explosions in 2018."​
Regulatory Actions and Fines
In addition to the civil settlements, Columbia Gas faced regulatory penalties:
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Criminal Charges: In February 2020, Columbia Gas pleaded guilty to violating the federal Pipeline Safety Act.
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Fine: The company agreed to pay a $53 million fine, the largest ever assessed for a Pipeline Safety Act violation.
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Operational Changes: As part of the plea agreement, Columbia Gas was required to cease operations in Massachusetts, leading to the sale of its assets to Eversource Energy for $1.1 billion.
Conclusion
The 2018 Merrimack Valley gas explosions had a profound impact on the affected communities. The legal actions and subsequent settlements aimed to provide restitution to victims and hold Columbia Gas accountable for its negligence. While financial compensation cannot fully undo the trauma experienced, it represents a significant step toward justice and recovery for the residents and businesses of Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover.