Erie resident sues over Toledo chemical leak

Kathy Thiede filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan on Thursday. The suit names two companies as defendants and seeks compensation for property-related losses stemming from a chemical leak in Toledo.

The incident occurred last week. Thiede, who lives in Erie, reported smelling chemicals outside her home. She stated that these odors preceded the official order for residents to shelter in place.

The lawsuit aims to represent all residents living within a 15-mile radius of the facility where the leak happened. This proposed class action area is five times larger than the original zone covered by the shelter-in-place directive.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted testing in the affected area. The agency reported that its findings did not detect hazardous chemicals above applicable screening levels.

The legal action was filed in federal court. It seeks to establish a broader group of potentially affected individuals. The original shelter-in-place order was issued by local authorities in response to the leak.

The two companies named in the suit are currently reviewing the claims. No trial date has been set. The 15-mile radius covers multiple communities beyond the initial emergency zone.