Plum Creek suit appears to be settled out of court

By HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News

A lawsuit by Columbia Falls residents against Plum Creek Manufacturing in Flathead County District Court appears to have been settled out of court.

Papers filed in the case last week ask for dismissal of the remaining plaintiffs in the case and the case's dismissal. As of last week, however, the request had not been signed off on by a judge.

About 20 residents first filed a suit against the timber company in 2003 - claiming that the company discharged formaldehyde along with its wastewater, allowing it to penetrate the groundwater, contaminating several wells. Subsequent fillings amended the original claim.

Those who filed the suit all currently own property or have resided near Plum Creek's mill in Columbia Falls. Formaldehyde is a by-product of Plum Creek's manufacturing process.

Earlier this year, many of the residents listed on the lawsuit settled out of court with Plum Creek and were removed from the case. According to records, those who settled received varying amounts money as part of the settlement.

Remaining plaintiff's in the case have periodically settled and been removed from the case since. The last plaintiff's removal was filed in court two weeks ago.

Plum Creek has continued to state that the suit is without merit.

According to court documents, the company was accused of not only contaminating the ground water, but also releasing airborne particles into the air which was claimed to have settled on the plaintiffs' property.

Plaintiffs in the case had been asking for damages related to the destruction of property and the cost of restoring property, as well as for damages as a result of pain and suffering and medical costs.