FAQ: Bouchard Faces Class Action Lawsuit For Buzzard's Bay Oil Spill
When did the oil spill occur?
The oil spill was on April 27, 2003, although oil washed ashore for weeks afterwards.
Who was responsible for the oil spill?
The law suit claims that Bouchard Transportation, Inc., and two related Bouchard companies, which owned and/or operated the tugboat and the barge involved in the spill, are responsible for the oil spill. Bouchard Transportation has pled guilty to criminal charges arising from the spill.
How much oil was spilled?
There has been a dispute about how much oil was spilled, since there is no simple method to measure how much oil was lost. As much as 98,000 gallons of oil may have been spilled.
Where did the oil go?
Close to 90 miles of tidal flats, beaches, and marshes on both sides of the Bay were contaminated by oil.
What were the effects of the spill?
This lawsuit is to hold Bouchard accountable for damage to private property. The state and federal governments are in the process of a complete assessment of the damage the spill did to do the environment. For more information about the spill, we recommend the Important Links on this page.
Questions about the lawsuit
Who is bringing the law suit?
The lawsuit is brought by Stern Shapiro Weissberg & Garin on behalf of three named plaintiffs and all persons having a property interest in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts residential property which was affected by the oil spill.
What is a class action?
A class action is a law suit which seeks to recover damages for a group of people who have been harmed by the same incident or entity. Only the court can certify that an action is a class action, and this case has been certified as a class action. Stern, Shapiro, Weissberg & Garin are Class Counsel.
What if I want to join the class action?
You may qualify to be a member of the class if you own residential property in Mattapoisett which is on the waterfront or you own property and have rights to access a beach. The court has ordered that notice be provided to potential class members. The notice includes a brief questionnaire. If you have not received the Notice, and you believe yourself to be a member of the Class, you can click here to obtain a downloadable copy of the Notice and Questionnaire. Please mail the completed Questionnaire as soon as possible to Stern, Shapiro, Weissberg & Garin.
What is the lawsuit meant to accomplish?
We want to vindicate the rights of class members to a clean Bay. We also want to recover money damages on behalf of all class members.
Will I get money if the lawsuit succeeds?
If this law suit is successful, members of the class may be entitled to money damages.
How can I get more information?
For more information, please click on this link to contact Stern, Shapiro, Weissberg & Garin; or you may contact us at 617-742-5800.
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