Congress Landfill
The purpose of this page is to provide updates and notices to our clients and interested members of the public about the ongoing litigation. Please remember to send any questions by email as this is the most efficient way in which our staff can assist you. Glen's email address is hot-linked on the right side of this page or you can complete a free consultation form by clicking the link above.
Page Last Updated: Thursday, March 14, 2013 - Update from Glen Dunn
The case against the owners and operators of the Hillside landfill has been progressing. Over 2,900 plaintiffs have joined together to sue the owners and operators of the Hillside landfill. This is a long and complicated process that will take several years for final resolution.
Our trial judge has set up two trial groups of 90-100 plaintiffs which are proceeding through the type of factual investigation necessary to prepare their cases for trial. In the last 15 months, in the first trial group, we have produced more than 70 plaintiffs for oral questioning by the defense counsel known as depositions. Having questioned so many residents, the attorneys for the landfill are now well aware of the common problems and issues that affected all of you when the odors were at their worse.
For the second trial group, we are still obtaining and processing their answers to certain written questions posed by the defendants, a common preliminary step in the process of bring a case to trial.
For the balance or roughly 2,700 plaintiffs who have not yet been picked for a trial group, their task is to complete the questionnaire drafted by the Court. We thank the very large number of you who have provided questionnaires in draft form which have been worked on with our staff. Over 1,300 plaintiffs have already produced their final questionnaires to the other side and a large number of you have produced draft questionnaires which are being finalized.
To assist with that process, there will be a meeting on March 14, 2013 at the Hillside Best Western from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to review draft questionnaires. Those of you who have not finished the questionnaire process will be getting a separate letter inviting you to the meeting. We appreciate your cooperation in completing the questionnaires.
The landfill attorneys are just finishing producing the documents from their clients relating to this case. To date, they have produced over 2.5 million pages of information about the landfill and its odor problems. We are in the process of reviewing this information to begin taking depositions of the landfill witnesses and employees.
We also are working with our experts to establish the facts and opinions necessary to succeed at the various trials likely to be associated with this case. The judge has not set a date for any trials yet but we continue to press ahead so that she may do so at the earliest possible moment.
The attorneys for the landfill have told the court that they have an interest in settling the case. We have presented several plans to them to end this litigation including making individual settlement demands for most of the members of the first trial group. The defendants have not offered a single dollar in settlement of any case and refuse to accept any responsibility for the suffering and damages they caused.
We are proud that the landfill has taken steps to improve its operations and appearance. These steps have occurred as a direct result of the various claims made against the landfill and represent part of the progress achieved by the community. If you continue to experience problems associated with the landfill operations, please remember to contact the Hillside Odor Hotline at 708-202-4320.
The progress in the past year was made under trying circumstances. As some of you may already know, Mr. Dunn experienced the death of his newborn son in May 2012 and needed time last summer with his family. We ask that you keep Mr. Dunn and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
We hope that 2013 will be a great year for everyone and we will provide further updates as the case progresses.
The purpose of this page is to provide updates and notices to our clients and interested members of the public about the ongoing litigation. Please remember to send any questions by email as this is the most efficient way in which our staff can assist you. Glen's email address is hot-linked on the right side of this page or you can complete a free consultation form by clicking the link above.
Page Last Updated: Thursday, March 14, 2013 - Update from Glen Dunn
The case against the owners and operators of the Hillside landfill has been progressing. Over 2,900 plaintiffs have joined together to sue the owners and operators of the Hillside landfill. This is a long and complicated process that will take several years for final resolution.
Our trial judge has set up two trial groups of 90-100 plaintiffs which are proceeding through the type of factual investigation necessary to prepare their cases for trial. In the last 15 months, in the first trial group, we have produced more than 70 plaintiffs for oral questioning by the defense counsel known as depositions. Having questioned so many residents, the attorneys for the landfill are now well aware of the common problems and issues that affected all of you when the odors were at their worse.
For the second trial group, we are still obtaining and processing their answers to certain written questions posed by the defendants, a common preliminary step in the process of bring a case to trial.
For the balance or roughly 2,700 plaintiffs who have not yet been picked for a trial group, their task is to complete the questionnaire drafted by the Court. We thank the very large number of you who have provided questionnaires in draft form which have been worked on with our staff. Over 1,300 plaintiffs have already produced their final questionnaires to the other side and a large number of you have produced draft questionnaires which are being finalized.
To assist with that process, there will be a meeting on March 14, 2013 at the Hillside Best Western from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to review draft questionnaires. Those of you who have not finished the questionnaire process will be getting a separate letter inviting you to the meeting. We appreciate your cooperation in completing the questionnaires.
The landfill attorneys are just finishing producing the documents from their clients relating to this case. To date, they have produced over 2.5 million pages of information about the landfill and its odor problems. We are in the process of reviewing this information to begin taking depositions of the landfill witnesses and employees.
We also are working with our experts to establish the facts and opinions necessary to succeed at the various trials likely to be associated with this case. The judge has not set a date for any trials yet but we continue to press ahead so that she may do so at the earliest possible moment.
The attorneys for the landfill have told the court that they have an interest in settling the case. We have presented several plans to them to end this litigation including making individual settlement demands for most of the members of the first trial group. The defendants have not offered a single dollar in settlement of any case and refuse to accept any responsibility for the suffering and damages they caused.
We are proud that the landfill has taken steps to improve its operations and appearance. These steps have occurred as a direct result of the various claims made against the landfill and represent part of the progress achieved by the community. If you continue to experience problems associated with the landfill operations, please remember to contact the Hillside Odor Hotline at 708-202-4320.
The progress in the past year was made under trying circumstances. As some of you may already know, Mr. Dunn experienced the death of his newborn son in May 2012 and needed time last summer with his family. We ask that you keep Mr. Dunn and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
We hope that 2013 will be a great year for everyone and we will provide further updates as the case progresses.