Residents of KCK take legal action against Harcros Chemicals in class-action lawsuit

A recent class-action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court has highlighted the alleged unlawful emissions of hazardous substances by Harcros Chemicals over several decades. The lawsuit, initiated on June 30, argues that the company, situated at 5200 Speaker Road in Kansas City, Kansas, has been participating in “abnormally dangerous activity” since as far back as 1960.

The lawsuit brings to light the release of various carcinogenic elements by Harcros Chemicals, asserting that this exposure has led to severe health issues among individuals in the vicinity. The litigants, Ellsworth William Jefferies III, Rocky Garner, Misty Coyazo, Jose L. Ramirez Jr., Kenique Smith, Estelle White, and Diane Woods on behalf of Cecil B. McBee’s estate, have suffered from a range of ailments, including blood cancers, lung cancer, liver cancer, and breast cancer, with one individual having passed away as a result of this alleged exposure.

The site of the Harcros Chemicals facility is situated in close proximity to the residences where the plaintiffs have resided for an extended period, well within what the lawsuit describes as a hazardous air plume. Additionally, the lawsuit points out that this toxic plume envelops various K-12 schools in the area, such as Turner Elementary, Turner Middle, Turner High School, and Wyandotte High School, potentially putting over 5,000 students at risk of continuous exposure to harmful air pollutants.

Contrary to assumptions that this issue might be a relic of the past, the lawsuit contends that the facility’s EPA Risk Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) score far exceeds the national median, marking it as an active and concerning threat. In fact, by 2021, the facility’s risk score was reportedly higher than the combined score of 2,700 average-risk facilities, prompting the company to pay over $8 million in environmental penalties since 2000.

Harcros Chemicals, in response to these allegations, has adamantly denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing its compliance with all relevant permits and regulations. The company, specializing in the production of industrial soaps and other chemical products, has reiterated its commitment to upholding safety standards and environmental regulations while serving as a reliable employer in the community.

The plaintiffs in this case are seeking legal recourse for what they claim are abnormally dangerous activities, gross negligence, negligent maintenance, wrongful death, and punitive damages. The outcome of this legal battle will be closely monitored as the allegations against Harcros Chemicals shed light on the pressing issue of industrial emissions and their impact on public health and safety.