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    Slater Teague
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    Class action lawsuit filed against Eastman Chemical Company

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    Class action lawsuit filed against Eastman Chemical Company

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf
    13K views34 pages

    Eastman Complaint

    Uploaded by

    Slater Teague
    Class action lawsuit filed against Eastman Chemical Company

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf
    of 34
    IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, TENNESSEE, ‘SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT suanon wearin oatemttor ease no 3 75D (1m) herself end all others similly situated, | prints, | cuass ACTION coMLamNt : FILED EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO. Alvfoal Defendant events veh cou ie SULWAN COUNTY. TN, (CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Plaintiff Sharon Weatherly brings this action against Eastman Chemical Co. (“Eastman”), ‘both on behalf of herself and on behalf ofall others similarly situated, for diminution in propecty value, 1. OnJanvary 31,2022, a pipe operated by Eastman burst, eausing debris and various contaminants, including asbestos and other toxins, to be released into the surrounding area, including residential community. 2. The incident caused these substances to be sprayed into the air over a large area and spreading into the surrounding community. Residents inthe surrounding community noted thet the debris could be seen raining dowm from the sky, coming to rest on and covering houses, vehicles, properties, and, in some eases, people. 3. The contaminants released are dangerous and pose significant risks to human health. 4, By virtue of ter close proximity o the Eastman plant where this incident occurred, Plaintiff's property values heve diminished, in part due to the ongoing tsk to health caused by the contaminants that covered ier entire neighborhood, and duc to the ongoing risk that similar incidents will occur in the fire. PARTIES 5. Plaintiff Shanon Weatherly is a citizen and resident of Tennesse, At all times sclevant,Plisff Weathely resided a 816 Oakdale Road, Kingsport, Tennessee 37664, in close proximity tothe Eastman plant located nearby. 6. Defendant Bastman Chemical Co. is a Delaware corporation with its corporate headquarters in Tennesse. Specifically, Defendants headquarters are located at 200 South Wiloox Drive, Kingsport, Tennesse 37660. Thus, for purposes of jurisdiction, Defendant is a citizen of the State of Delaware and the State of Tennessee JURISDICTION AND VENUE 7. This Cour bus subject matter juistiction pursuant to Tenn, Code Ann, §§ 20-2- 222 and 20.2-228, 8 Defendant astman Chemical Co. is subject to jurisition inthe State of Tennessee because it maintains is principal place of business in Kingsport, Tennessee, Further, Eastman engages in substantial business activity within the State of Tennessee, which activity caused the claimed injuries inthis case. ‘Venue is proger inthis Court pursuant to Tenn. Cade Ann, § 20-4-101(a) and (b), 10. Venue is proper in Sullivan County because both Plaintiff and Eastman reside in Sullivan County, Further, the facts and injuries giving rise to the claims all occurred in Sullivan County GENERAL FACTS 11, Eastman is aplobal specialty materials company tht produces a broad ange of products."' Sine its founding, Eastman bes produced chemicals for use in other product, applications. Eastman maintns eumerous manufacturing pants worldwide 12, Eastman maintains one such manufacturing plant in Kingsport, Tennessee This ‘manufacturing ste produces a “broad range of chemicals, fibers and pasties” which are wsed in “products such as paint, adhesives, textiles, sports hotles, pharmaceuticals, meal devices and smut more”? 13, On the morning of January 31, 2022, at approximstely 7:30 am. stam line (oF Pipe) at Eastman’s Kingspot manufacturing plant burst. Upon information and bei, this pipe carted stam 1o and throughout the plant, siding in the production of Eestman’s various chemical prodvets. The incident occured a the northeast side ofthe plant 14, Reports later ndicated that five peopl suffered injures as a result ofthe steam line future 15, When the steam line burs, it caused a loud noise; released a massive plume of debris into the air; and the blast reportedly shook homes nearest to the plant. Some residents reported feting tremors fom the incident, lasting for approximately five minutes, Immediately afer the pipe burst, it released steam and pariculate debris contsining various contaminants, including asbestos and other toxins, into the ait—and into the surrounding communities. " bntps:/wwo-eastman.comCompany/About Eastman/Pages/Profile aspx (last visited Feb. 10, 2022). 2 Inips:/vww.castman com/Company/Workdwidelour_sites/Pages/UnitedStates_ Tennessee spi~:text~Eastman 20 ingsport%2C%20T ennessee%20manufacturing®20site medical 942 Odevices!20and%20much®420more (last visited Feb. 10, 2022) 3 16. Notably, upon information and belief, Eastman failed to sound any alarm warning the surrounding community of the incident and failed to ask the City of Kingsport to issue emergency messages to the community 17. When the steam line burst on the morning of January 31, 2022, it immediately released a massive plume of steam, debris, and various contaminants, including asbestos and other toxins, into the air. This plume extended high into the sky and continued to release debris and ‘contaminants into the air—znd into the surrounding communities—for some time. Photographs ilustrate the sizeof these plumes of debris: changes/artcle_aB81b812-885del1ee-95b5-0756 (last visited Feb, 10,2022). 4 18 Inpartcuar, some residents reported that debris could be sen falling fom te sky, similar to rif, coming toes on thet homes, vehicles, and properties. 19, Residents in the surounding communities were understandably wortied and concemed for their and ther fais safety. 20, Almost immediately after the incident, residents called emergency services,

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