101 Arch Street
Boston, MA 02110
Tel: 617.556.0007 I Fax: 617.654.1735
www.k-plaw.com
Contact: Richard Holland
617-556-0007
rholland@k-plaw.com
KP LAW REPRESENTS TOWN OF PLYMOUTH IN LANDMARK $22.8 MILLION SETTLEMENT OVER SEWER COLLAPSE
BOSTON, MA- KP Law attorney Richard Holland successfully represented the Town of Plymouth in two lawsuits arising from the collapse of the Town’s 4.5 mile sewer force main in December 2015 and January 2016, after little more than 13 .5 years in operation. The collapse of the force main resulted in significant damages to the Town, substantial risk of harm to public health and safety, and a lawsuit by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for alleged violations of environmental laws and permits against the Town and Veolia Water, which operates and maintains the Town’s sewer system under a long-term service contract. Seeking to recover costs to repair the force main and other damages, the Town sued Veolia Water and a number of other parties, including CDM Smith, Inc. and Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., which had worked on the design of the force main. The Town asserted that the force main had collapsed from internal corrosion due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide, a condition which the Town alleged had been caused by Veolia Water’s failure to maintain the force main and by defects in the design of the force main. After years of litigation among the parties, the lawsuit was settled shortly before trial for payment to the Town of $22,825,000.00.
The Commonwealth’s lawsuit was resolved in 2018, with Veolia Water paying a civil penalty to the Commonwealth.
Attorney Holland was assisted in the litigation by Attorney David Doneski, as well as by other attorneys in the firm’s litigation department.
KP Law provides legal representation and comprehensive legal services to cities, towns and other governmental bodies throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Attorneys Holland and Doneski are shareholders of the firm. Attorney Holland concentrates on the litigation of complex contract disputes, including construction and design defect claims. Attorney Doneski concentrates on municipal-law practice as well as the litigation of complex contract disputes. Together they have litigated many contract disputes for the firm’s clients throughout the Commonwealth. More information about the firm and its attorneys may be found at www.k-plaw.com.
Questions about the litigation and settlement may be directed to Attorney Richard Holland at 617-556-0007.