Landmark Decision in SGT's PFAS Contamination Litigation allows RICO Claims to Proceed

December 22, 2023

In a landmark decision, on December 21, 2023, United States District Judge Margaret R. Guzman affirmed in substantial part United States Magistrate Judge Hennessy’s Report and Recommendation upholding the vast majority of Plaintiffs’ claims in the case Ryan et al. v. Greif, Inc. et al., No. 4:22-cv-40089 (D. Mass), a case brought by residents of a Massachusetts town whose drinking water and real property has been contaminated by toxic PFAS chemicals as a result of unchecked dumping at an area composting facility.

Notably, Judge Guzman allowed Plaintiffs’ Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) claims to proceed against several defendants, representing the first time the federal RICO statute has been applied against alleged environmental polluters.

Law 360’s coverage of the decision can be found here, and the decision can be downloaded here.