The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a portion of a class action lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corp. and Torrance Refining Co. concerning pollution from their refinery in Torrance, California. The appellate panel reversed a lower court decision that had improperly dismissed a trespass claim, clarifying that allegations of soil and groundwater contamination, along with soil vapor intrusion, constitute valid grounds for trespass under California law.
The court’s decision reinstates lead plaintiff Jose Navarro’s trespass claims and instructs the lower court to reconsider its previous decertification of the subclass representing affected neighbors based on this broader interpretation.
Matt Matern of Matern Law Group, representing Navarro and the community, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing the firm’s commitment to continuing its advocacy efforts on behalf of the affected residents. The case, initially filed in 2017, highlights significant legal questions around environmental pollution and property rights, demonstrating Matern Law Group’s active role in addressing complex environmental justice issues.
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