MANITOWOC – A lawsuit between the City of Manitowoc and Newell Brands Inc. over historic contamination by the former Mirro manufacturing plant has moved to the U.S. District Court.
The federal case was opened May 11 and no hearings have been scheduled yet.
Originally, the lawsuit was filed by the City of Manitowoc in Manitowoc County Circuit Court April 9.
The city is seeking reimbursement from the company that took over the former Mirro Company for nearly $6 million in environmental cleanup and redevelopment costs.
After the city acquired the site of the former Mirro manufacturing building on Washington Street in 2016, it found contaminates like PCBs, solvents, petroleum compounds and PFAS in the ground on the property.
According to a news release from Mayor Justin Nickels, multiple assessments and the fact that Mirro was the sole industrial user of the property point to the manufacturer as the party responsible for the contamination.
The complaint filed by the City of Manitowoc alleges that Newell Brand Inc., the successor company to Mirro Aluminum Company, knew about the environmental contamination caused by the manufacturing building and did nothing about it.
The complaint states: “For over a century, ending in 1986, Newell continuously operated at the property (on Washington Street) and, during that time, caused and contributed to significant environmental impacts.”
If the city wins the lawsuit, it is asking for the cost of damages at $5.8 million and any future costs of remediating and redeveloping the property.
Contact Alisa M. Schafer at aschafer@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Mirro contamination lawsuit moves to US District Court
Reporting by Alisa M. Schafer, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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