Chiquita Canyon Landfill – Join Lawsuit Now

Looming Issues with Chiquita Canyon

Chiquita Canyon, located in Castaic, California, is a 639-acre landfill nestled in the Santa Clarita Valley that has been in operation for approximately 50 years. The landfill is owned and operated by Waste Connections and boasts disposal services that are environmentally safe, accepting non-hazardous waste from residential homes, commercial businesses, and municipalities.

However, no matter how efficient Chiquita Canyon Landfill has claimed to be over the years, they have been actively targeted in a new lawsuit due to foul-smelling odors that Santa Clarita Valley residents have lived with for years. The first mass tort action lawsuit is now taking place against the landfill so that individuals and families can be compensated for the losses they have suffered over the years.

Along with the horrific smell that many people in the area claim to constantly live with, many have also reported health issues stemming from toxins emitted from the landfill (these include congestion, coughing, burning eyes, body aches, and more in adults and children). The odor alone can negatively impact real estate value, but when combined with potential health risks that accompany the odor, the adverse impact on property value can be more acute.

Air monitoring was conducted in the area showing readings of 35% on hydrogen sulfide. In California, the state standard is 30 parts per billion averaged over one hour’s time. As a result, many individuals claim that they not only suffer adverse health effects, but many people are also choosing to not move to the area. Furthermore, many individuals have found that their property value may not be what it once was living in such close proximity to the landfill. There are major concerns for those who may choose to sell their property in the future but find out that it is not worth what they expected.

Understanding the Chiquita Canyon Landfill Lawsuit

Landfill operators and South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) have both stated that the potentially toxic and hazardous odors present at the landfill are caused by dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which is a colorless liquid that is present in older parts of landfills. The smell reported is similar to an onion but residents have reported that it is much worse in their area. For many, this means living in a hazardous area with an ever-present smell that can affect the value of the properties around it.

In August 2023, residents in the area filed the first class-action lawsuit making claims that the odor in the area has become incredibly intense and even potentially harmful to their health, as well as the health of loved ones. Because of the extreme smell in the area, residents were urged by the community to close their windows at all times, as well as run air conditioning in an attempt to filter the smell in households. There are also allegations that operators at the landfill knew about leachate-seepage issues since last year but failed to report it in a timely manner. This can be an environmental pollutant, as it causes chemicals to potentially penetrate groundwater and travel over a considerable distance, which could be causing some of the issues with strong odors in the area. In the past year, Chiquita Canyon Landfill has received more than 100 violation notices related to environmental hazards that it failed to correct.

Because landfills are known to release toxins into the nearby environment, they are expected to abide by state regulations and respond to all complaints in a timely manner. Although Waste Connections has received thousands of complaints from those in the area over the years, the landfill has failed to fix the growing problem.

Damages in a Class Action Lawsuit Against Chiquita Canyon Landfill

Although every claim is different, residents who participate in the class action lawsuit against Chiquita Canyon Landfill may be eligible for a variety of damages through what is known as a diminished value claim. These claims allow you to recover damages when the market value of your home and other property has diminished due to an adverse condition in the area. A home may not be worth significantly less than when it was purchased or built due to hazardous conditions in the area that are out of the homeowner’s control. Your lawyer will use a multiplier to determine the value of your home before the landfill’s impact on it and how much of a loss you would take if you sold your home. This can help you obtain the proper amount of damages that are entitled to you in your claim.

Though it is not possible to place an exact value on a landfill-related claim, residents could receive a fair share of financial support as they come together in a class action lawsuit. Many of these lawsuits over the years have been known to bring in multi-million dollar settlements for victims.