Settlement Reached In Lawsuit Against Northport Trucking Company For Chemical Spill

NORTHPORT, AL — A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit against a Northport trucking company accused of spilling dangerous chemicals on the periphery of two neighborhoods and a school.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

As Patch previously reported, a total of 14 Northport residents were listed on the initial civil lawsuit in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court against two local companies: Burgess Equipment Repair LLC and Tuscaloosa-based Delta Oil Services, Inc.

The property itself is owned by Jerry Wade Burgess, while Delta Oil has worked with the company for a number of years, disposing of oil and other chemical waste.

Tuscaloosa law firm Prince Glover Hayes (PGH), which handled the case along with the Pearson Law Firm, confirmed to Patch that a settlement has been reached after nearly five years of litigation.

PGH Manager Dena Prince, speaking on behalf of her firm and Ward Pearson, confirmed the case had been settled after being mediated twice.

Prince said she and Pearson were pleased to finally reach a settlement on behalf of their clients, before saying the terms of the settlement are confidential.

As Patch previously reported, the controversy began to grab the public's attention on March 16, 2021, when the Northport Police Department asked for the public's help identifying the source of a foul, chemical smell in the vicinity of Huntington Place.

Emergency officials responding to the calls eventually noticed two Delta Oil tanker trucks at the south end of the Burgess property, which was positioned uphill from a tributary to Carroll's Creek — a primary feeder into Lake Tuscaloosa.

The trucks were identified as the likely source of the protracted spill, as oil sheens were visible in standing water, along with dead foliage in the immediate vicinity of the site.

ALSO READ: Former Driver Blames Delta Oil, Not Burgess For Northport Spill

Patch previously reported that approximately 75 cubic yards of contaminated soil was removed from the spill site, and it took a little over a month to complete the cleanup.

One of the plaintiffs in the case, who agreed to talk with Patch on the condition they would not be cited by name for this story, said they honestly didn't think much would come of the lawsuit after issues first presented themselves in 2020.

"Five years and several depositions later, I was really shocked to learn that a settlement had been reached," the Northport resident told Patch. "I’m thankful Burgess stepped up and made things right with all of the families affected."

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com