THE SIGNAL

“Federal judge grants residents ‘partial victory’ over Chiquita”

“Castaic and Val Verde residents have claimed at least a partial victory in what’s expected to be a yearslong legal fight against Chiquita Canyon Landfill. 

Residents near the landfill have been plagued for years by a “noxious reaction,” a public nuisance residents say is forcing them to move. Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction on their behalf in December. The county’s complaint sought $4,000 a month for relocation funds for almost 950 households for about six months, which comes to a little over $22 million….

Oshea Orchid, a partner with Sethi Orchid Miner LLP who represents thousands of clients in a separate civil action seeking damages against the landfill, said she was grateful for Frimpong’s efforts in her ruling.  

She credited Frimpong with visiting the community and really listening to residents’ testimony. 

Orchid said, based on the ruling, when both sides meet, the factors considered in the award for residents will be: the number of households that filed a complaint with relevant government agencies for the odors; which households submitted complaints and where they were located; any results from any additional surveys or questionnaires; the reported severity and pervasiveness of the odors in the neighborhoods where the residents filed air quality complaints; and the recency of the complaints filed.  ”