Lawsuit Filed Over California Chemical Crisis

[Santa Ana, CA] – Morgan & Morgan and Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP have filed a proposed class action lawsuit on behalf of a group of plaintiffs who allege they have been impacted by a chemical crisis in Greater Los Angeles against the companies they allege are responsible.

On May 21, firefighters responded to the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, CA, in the Greater Los Angeles area, regarding dangerous temperatures in a tank containing the hazardous chemical methyl methacrylate. This chemical is irritating to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes and can cause respiratory and neurological symptoms including chronic breathing problems, birth defects and organ death. Authorities evacuated approximately 50,000 people from the area for several days.

The lawsuit is brought by several plaintiffs who allege they were impacted by the crisis, including residents, property and business owners near the GKN facility, a construction worker who was repairing a street near the facility when the incident occurred, and a family who had to evacuate the hospital shortly after the birth of their first child. The plaintiffs allege GKN negligently failed to construct, operate and maintain their facility, and that they negligently inflicted emotional distress on the plaintiffs.

The complaint is attached, and a statement follows from Morgan & Morgan attorneys John Morgan and Jack Rutherford:

“This is a truly terrifying situation no one should have to face in their homes and community. Imagine firefighters knocking on your door saying you need to abandon your house immediately, and having no idea when you might be able to return. We will tirelessly pursue justice for everyone impacted to ensure this community never endures this again.”

The case was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Orange, Case No. 30-2026-01572320-CU-TT-CXC.