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Class Certification Granted in Chemtool Fire Class Action

Class Certification Granted in Chemtool Fire Class Action
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On October 10, 2022, The Honorable Stephen E. Balogh, Associate Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit, Winnebago County, Illinois certified a class of Illinois citizens seeking recovery for a myriad of property-related injuries resulting from a fire and series of explosions that occurred in June 2021 at Chemtool, Incorporated’s manufacturing plant in Rockton, Illinois.  The class includes Illinois citizens who were, on June 14, 2021, owners or tenants of property located in Illinois within three miles of the former Chemtool plant.  The case is Grasley, et al. v. Chemtool, Inc. No. 2021-L-162 (Winnebago County Circuit Court).

As Judge Balogh noted, the class is “vigorously and capably” represented by Miner, Barnhill & Galland’s Robert Libman, together with co-lead counsel Daniel Rock Flynn of DiCello Levitt, and Robert M. Foote of Foote, Mielke, Chaves & O’Neil, LLC, along with the plaintiffs’ executive committee members Edward J. Manzke of The  Collins Law Firm, P.C., David Neiman of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, Steven Hart of Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge, LLC, and Deanna Pihos of Miner, Barnhill & Galland, and class liaison counsel Marc C. Gravino of Williams McCarthy LLP.

Judge Balogh’s order can be accessed here.

About Miner, Barnhill & Galland, P.C.

Founded in 1971, MBG represents a broad range of individual, government, non-profit and corporate clients with offices in Chicago, Illinois, Madison, Wisconsin, and Los Angeles, California. The firm is nationally known for its class action and complex civil litigation practice in the public interest including environmental protection, civil rights, consumer protection, and government fraud.  Its environmental practice includes representation of individuals, classes, and organizations, litigation to ensure clean air and water, and consultation with advocacy groups and non-profits on pollution and contamination issues.  MBG recently served as lead counsel for a class of over 10,000 Iowa residents, alleging that a wet corn mill’s air emissions interfered with the use and enjoyment of their properties, obtaining a $51.5 million settlement for the class.  MBG has represented the Sierra Club in a number of matters alleging violations of clean air laws.  MBG currently serves as lead counsel in a class action on behalf of residents near Pittsburgh alleging that a fire at a steel production facility interfered with the use and enjoyment of their properties.  MBG attorneys have also been appointed as Special Assistant Attorneys General by a number of states in litigation against corporate wrongdoers.  MBG served as outside counsel to eight states (including Illinois and Wisconsin) in litigation against dozens of pharmaceutical manufacturers alleging reporting of false drug prices to state Medicaid agencies, recovering nearly $1.2 billion in settlements and judgments after trial.  Distinguished MBG alumni include a MacArthur Foundation fellow, several law professors at leading American universities, a U.S. Magistrate Judge, a U.S. District Court Judge, and President Barack Obama. For more information, visit www.lawmbg.com or call 312-751-1170.

Gadiel Castro-ZapataClass Certification Granted in Chemtool Fire Class Action