Singleton Schreiber files first case representing Imperial Beach residents against Veolia Water for public health and environmental crisis
County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer Introducing Policy for County of San Diego to Join Lawsuits Like One Being Brought by Singleton Schreiber
Imperial Beach, CA – October 15, 2024
Today, Imperial Beach residents took legal action against the entities responsible for the ongoing water contamination crisis that has plagued their community. The lawsuit seeks to hold the defendants accountable for the severe environmental and public health impacts caused by contamination, including untreated sewage, heavy metals, and other toxic chemicals directly impacting the public health and public safety of Imperial Beach. The actions of the defendants in this case, Veolia Water and others, have directly denied local residents and the community the right to live and recreate in a safe and clean environment.
The plaintiffs, a diverse group of Imperial Beach community members, allege that the defendants' negligent actions and failure to properly manage hazardous materials have led to dangerous levels of pollution in the water. The contaminants have put residents at risk of significant health issues, from skin rashes to respiratory problems, have caused property damage, loss of business income and have disrupted daily life in the coastal community.
Defendants, Veolia Water Operating Services, Veolia Water North America-West, and Mark Wippler, employee of Veolia, operate the South Bay International Water Treatment Plant (SBIWTP), as contracted by the International Boundary & Water Commission (IBWC). Although it has received millions of dollars from the federal government to operate, manage, and maintain the SBIWTP, Veolia has failed and caused a public health and environmental crisis in Imperial Beach.
“The residents of Imperial Beach have been suffering the consequences of polluted water for far too long. This lawsuit aims to secure justice for the community and hold those responsible accountable for their reckless disregard of public health and environmental safety,” said Brett Schreiber, Partner at Singleton Schreiber representing the Imperial Beach residents. “This is not just an environmental issue, but a public health emergency. Families here have been exposed to dangerous chemicals for years without adequate action from the responsible parties.”
The legal action comes after months of advocacy and investigations into the causes of water contamination in the region. This lawsuit marks a crucial step in the fight to protect the natural resources and the well-being of Imperial Beach residents. The plaintiffs are demanding both financial compensation and measures to address the contamination and prevent future occurrences.
Supervisor Lawson-Remer Joins Pursuit of Legal Remedies for TJ River Crisis
On October 22, 2024, Supervisor Lawson-Remer will ask the County Board of Supervisors to explore options to file its own lawsuits, or join existing litigation to halt the sewage flow and expedite repairs, like the lawsuit being brought against Veolia today by residents of Imperial Beach.
“The Tijuana River sewage crisis is a critical regional issue that is an environmental crisis for our entire County. The coastal communities I represent are heavily impacted,” said Supervisor Lawson-Remer, Vice Chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “Later this month I will bring a policy to my colleagues that if approved will allow us to join these types of lawsuits. The weight of County government joining together with our residents will help to drive accountability and action by the entities who are violating people’s right to clean air, water and beaches.”
In 2017, the County of San Diego was preparing to pursue legal action over the wastewater violations being outlined by the residents of Imperial Beach, but the previous Board of Supervisors opted for inaction instead.
1. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer in consultation with County Counsel, to explore options to file a legal complaint or join existing litigation against any potential responsible parties, such as but not limited to, Veolia North America, for damages caused to the Tijuana River Valley, Estuary and Marine Preserve, and the surrounding communities. Litigation options should include, but not be limited to, the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Return to the Board in closed session on an ongoing basis every 90 days with updates on their efforts, and options that the Board can elect to implement.
The County's leadership in a lawsuit would bring greater resources, expertise, and pressure to the fight for clean water and force potential responsible parties, such as Veolia, to take faster action to stop the pollution. Today’s item directs County staff to explore litigation options that will expedite infrastructure repairs and halt the discharge of polluted wastewater.
For years, the community has faced water advisories, unsafe swimming conditions, and persistent concerns over the long-term health effects of exposure to contaminated water. Despite repeated warnings and clear signs of environmental harm, the defendants failed to take necessary corrective actions to prevent further contamination.
Since 2018, there have been over 500 illegal discharge incidents from the plant resulting in over a billion gallons of raw sewage flowing into the Tijuana River and the Pacific Ocean. The Cities of Imperial Beach and Chula Vista, together with the San Diego Port Commission have previously sued Veolia and the IBWC for civil penalties, but this is the first lawsuit directly aiming to compensate the residents of Imperial Beach who suffer daily from exposure to odors, toxic chemicals, raw sewage, and other hazardous waste.
Singleton Schreiber is a client-centered law firm, specializing in mass torts/multi-district litigation, environmental law, fire litigation, personal injury/wrongful death, civil rights, and sex abuse/trafficking. Over the last decade, the firm has recovered more than $2.5 billion for clients who have been harmed and sought justice. The firm also has the largest fire litigation practice in the country, having represented over 26,000 victims of wildfire, most notably serving plaintiffs in litigation related to the 2023 Maui wildfires, the Colorado Marshall wildfire, the Washington Gray wildfire, the Texas Smokehouse Creek wildfire, several California wildfires, and others.
