Assumption Parish Sheriff's Department photo of the 2010 well blowout near Paincourtville, La.
GALVESTON - An Assumption Parish, La., woman is suing Mantle Oil & Gas LLC over a toxic chemical release last year.
Peggy Alcee filed a lawsuit Aug. 11 in Galveston County District Court, against Friendswood-based Mantle over the blow out of an oil and gas well near Paincourtville, La.
According to the original petition, the well located in the middle of a sugar cane filed blew out on Aug. 11, 2010, and released oil, gas, diesel-hydrocarbons, brine and other material hundreds of feet into the air and continued gushing for more than a week.
Alcee says the incident shut down portions of Louisiana Highways 70 and 1 and forced residents living within several miles of the well to evacuate.
"The release of oil, gas, diesel-hydrocarbons and other toxic substances has contaminated the personal and real property of the individuals who were property owners and/or domiciled within the area affected by the release," the original petition states.
Alcee claims she and other citizens have suffered serious health problems such as respiratory problems, skin problems and burning or irritation of the eyes.
Mantle is summarily faulted for breach of a legally imposed duty of reasonable care, failure to maintain its well, failing to operate the well in a safe manner and failing to follow its own procedures to prohibit a release of oil, gas, diesel-hydrocarbons and other toxic substances.
Consequently, the complainant seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
She is represented by Spagnoletti & Co.
The case has been assigned to Galveston County 212th District Court Judge Susan Criss.
Case No. 11-cv-1312