Fresno Finally Wins $230M from Shell in a 17-Year-Old Legal Marathon

The legal drama kicked off on March 21, 2007, when Fresno decided it was time to hold Shell Oil Company, Dow Chemical Company, and other defendants accountable for the mess they left in the city’s drinking water.

Posted by John Donovan 2 August 2024

In a saga that took nearly two decades to unfold, the City of Fresno has just scored $230 million from the corporate behemoth Shell Oil Company. This David-versus-Goliath victory comes from a lawsuit filed way back in 2007, proving that sometimes, the little guy can win—if they’re willing to wait 17 years.

According to Fresno’s City Attorney Office, this settlement is the largest of its kind in the nation for this particular type of environmental claim. Who knew dragging a toxic corporate giant through the mud could pay off so handsomely?

The legal drama kicked off on March 21, 2007, when Fresno decided it was time to hold Shell Oil Company, Dow Chemical Company, and other defendants accountable for the mess they left in the city’s drinking water. The lawsuit demanded reimbursement for the costs of removing TCP (that’s 1,2,3-Trichloropropane for those keeping track) from the city’s wells. Because apparently, clean drinking water is a luxury when you’re dealing with Shell.

City Attorney Andrew Janz is understandably ecstatic, declaring, “This settlement ensures the city will be able to return the contaminated wells back into the service.” A heartfelt shoutout went to his legal team, led by Mike Axline, for sticking it out through 16 long years of legal wrangling. Persistence, it seems, is key when battling oil giants.

The $230 million will be used over the next decade to clean up and mitigate the contaminated wells. And no need to worry, Fresno residents—current water sources are safe and don’t rely on the polluted wells involved in the lawsuit.

So here’s to Fresno, for reminding us that even the most glacial of legal battles can end in victory. And a tip of the hat to Shell, for showing us all just how long it can take to hold a polluting giant accountable. Cheers!

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