Class action approval sought in new lawsuit filed against Winston Weaver

Another lawsuit has been filed against the Weaver fertilizer plant in Winston-Salem.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs impacted by the plant fire are seeking a class action status from the court.

The Law Office of James Scott Farrin recently filed the lawsuit in Forsyth County Superior Court. It accuses the company of being negligent in its handling or care of ammonium nitrate and says it should have taken steps to avoid the fire.

Forsyth County resident Karen Prudencio is listed as the plaintiff representing the class. She was one of around 6,500 people in the one-mile evacuation zone. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for displacement and other expenses resulting from the evacuation.

It also lists potential health concerns from residents about fire-related pollution in the air and local waterways.

Attorney Gary Jackson says this impacted primarily low-income neighborhoods and people of color. He says the class action status is important.

“Here there's an aspect of environmental justice. There's value in bringing this situation to the attention of the public and letting Weaver explain what happened, why it happened. And there's a utility in that separate and apart from the compensation of the victim.”

This is the latest lawsuit filed since the fire broke out at the Weaver plant on January 31. An investigation into the cause is still underway.

Weaver spokesman Adam Parrish says the company isn't commenting on pending litigation.

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