In a remarkable legal move, a federal judge permitted civil racketeering claims to proceed in the wake of a lawsuit that’s rooted in public drinking water contamination, specifically with per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) near Westminster, Massachusetts. These claims have been introduced under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The case targets a Paper Mill that allegedly contributed to the contamination issues.
The chemicals in question, PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” have been the center of both legislative and regulatory examination due to their prolonged half-life. This characteristic potentially leads to them remaining in the environment for extended durations. As a result, they can pose significant risks to humans and wildlife alike.
This lawsuit has attracted a great deal of attention due to the application of the RICO Act – a law typically associated with organized crime – in an environmental context. It provides a significant turn of events in PFAS-related litigation.
For more detailed information on the case, please read it
here.