The Tennessee Valley ash spill - ambulance chasers are starting to circle overhead
When the Coal burning power plant had
that leak of the water and coal ash a few weeks ago, it was certain that lawyers would get involved.
Turns out it's Erin Brockovich -- from the
Knoxville News:
Brockovich visit concerns some
Businessman worries class-action lawsuit will follow
Erin Brockovich's arrival in Roane County is expected to draw a crowd, but the prospect of a class-action lawsuit by the New York law firm that's accompanying her is raising some concern.
"The minute we take legal action as a community, we will lose the ability to talk and negotiate with TVA directly," businessman Randy Martens said. "Our relationship with TVA will become purely adversarial and all dialogue will be handled by high-priced lawyers."
Brockovich will hold a press conference in Lenoir City today and a public meeting Friday at Roane State Community College with representatives of the Weitz & Luxenberg law firm.
The meeting had been planned at a church but was moved to Roane State to handle a crowd of 500 or more people, said Roane County Attorney Tom McFarland, who is helping to coordinate the visit.
Martens, owner of Credit Card Equipment Corp., is among business people putting together a list of needs to present to TVA.
Martens said he was curious when he heard of Brockovich's impending visit but became concerned when he called the firm and a staffer told him the visit was to explore a class-action lawsuit. "I said, 'Why start so soon,' and she said, 'Now is the time.' "
I can't help but feel a little cynical -- the only people who will really profit here are the lawyers. The people who were hit by this disaster will see a few pennies on the dollar of the settlement. The rest will go to the lawyers for their "work".
Posted by DaveH at January 8, 2009 6:56 PM