Class-action Lawsuit Filed Against Eastman Chemical Over Kingsport Pipe Failure - Articles

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Class-action Lawsuit Filed Against Eastman Chemical Over Kingsport Pipe Failure

Posted by: Jarod Word on Feb 22, 2022

Lawyers in East Tennessee have filed a class-action lawsuit against Eastman Chemical Company over the Jan. 31 “steam pipe failure” at the company’s Kingsport plant, which injured five workers and caused debris possibly containing asbestos to contaminate a nearby neighborhood, WJHL Kingsport reports. Filed by Knoxville-based firm Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, the suit accuses Eastman of trespass, negligence and being a public and private nuisance, claiming it “engaged in ultra-hazardous activities by transporting high pressure steam under unsafe condition through an asbestos-lined steam line.” Milberg lawyer and TBA Tort & Insurance Practice Section member Billy Ringger recently spoke with WJHL about the case, saying that while the suit was only filed on behalf of the property owners who live near the explosion, the firm sees more on the horizon. “We’re here not to throw stones at Eastman, we’re here to help those residents who need legal representation immediately to protect their legal rights,” said Ringger. “We’ll continue to speak with local residents there in the Kingsport area, and hopefully can continue to help them all individually.” Eastman in a press release on Monday said it is working with a third party to evaluate the issue and that air test results after the rupture showed no detectable asbestos.