Lawsuits allege contaminated water led to employee illnesses

By Holly Fleming

Published on April 11, 2006

The series of lawsuits allege that the water was contaminated by toxic chemicals that were used to make phone equipment and then dumped onsite. The chemicals worked their way from the ground into the drinking-water supply that was pumped into the building.

The employees became very ill; most with cancer. At least four employees died during the plant's 35-year history and thirteen ex-employees or their survivors are suing.

At least five companies operated the plant over the years. The plaintiffs believe that one of the companies is responsible for their illness, but they don't know which one. So they have been advised to try a different legal tactic, one designed to procure compensation without assigning blame. The suits target the current landowners: two development companies that did not build on the property and are not accused of polluting it.

The now-vacant plant was built by General Dynamics Corp. for subsidiary Stromberg-Carlson Corp. in 1968.

Although the owners changed, the work force of about 2,000 manufactured the same thing consistently: telephone-network switches.

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