New York Town Sues Verizon Over Lead Contamination Claims

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Verizon endangered public health by improperly handling lead-coated cables, causing lead contamination in Wappinger, NY.

Consumers Affected: Residents of Wappinger, NY, who have been exposed to lead contamination.

Court: Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York

The town of Wappinger, New York, has filed a lawsuit against Verizon, accusing the telecom giant of endangering public health by improperly handling lead-coated telecommunications cables. 

The lawsuit alleges that Verizon knowingly abandoned toxic, lead-sheathed cables throughout the town—on poles, in soil, underwater, and in buildings—without taking proper measures to dispose of or mitigate the risks.

Verizon Accused of Endangering Public Health with Lead-Coated Cables

According to the proposed class action lawsuit, Verizon’s outdated cables have been shedding lead into the environment for decades, contaminating soil, water, and air and exposing residents, workers, and wildlife to serious health risks. The town claims these actions amount to a “massive, undisclosed human health experiment,” asserting that Verizon prioritized profits over safety by avoiding the costs of proper decommissioning.

The lawsuit describes lead-coated cables covered in visible, soft layers of lead dust. Utility workers reportedly scribbled messages in the toxic coating, highlighting just how pervasive the contamination was. As the lead degrades, the lawsuit claims, it leaches into surrounding environments—near schools, parks, and residential areas—putting the community at risk for lead poisoning.

Lead Contamination Poses Serious Health Risks to Wappinger Residents

Lead exposure is known to cause significant health issues, including damage to the brain, nervous system, kidneys, and cardiovascular system. Children are particularly vulnerable, as lead exposure can impair cognitive development and lead to lifelong behavioral issues. 

Wappinger officials argue that residents face a heightened risk of lead-related illnesses and are demanding a medical surveillance program to monitor the long-term effects of exposure.

The town also claims that Verizon’s actions have placed a financial burden on local services, from public health programs to emergency care. They are seeking damages to cover the increased costs of these essential services, as well as funds to clean up and monitor the contaminated areas.

Other Companies Face Lawsuits Over Environmental Harm and Public Health Risks

The Wappinger lawsuit comes amid a wave of legal actions against corporations accused of exposing communities to toxic substances. Shell is facing a lawsuit in Pennsylvania over pollution from its ethylene cracker plant, which allegedly emitted harmful odors and dust that damaged homes and health. In Georgia, residents are suing the parent company of a chemical plant for a massive fire that released hazardous chlorine gas, affecting nearly 100,000 people.

In California, homeowners in Imperial Beach are suing federal agencies and companies for failing to address sewage pollution from Tijuana, which has severely affected property values and quality of life.

These cases reflect a growing trend of communities holding companies accountable for environmental harm and public health risks. The lawsuit argues that Verizon has long been aware of the dangers posed by its lead-sheathed cables. Yet, it allegedly failed to warn the public or take adequate steps to prevent further contamination. The lawsuit aims not only to hold Verizon accountable but also to set a precedent for corporate responsibility in safeguarding public health and the environment.

In Verizon lead exposure class action lawsuit, Wappinger wants to represent any other government entity in New York State that provides essential services to residents who have been exposed to significant health risks by Verizon’s “actions and inaction regarding abandoned lead-sheathed telecommunications cables.”

The town is suing for negligence and public law common nuisance and seeking abatement of the nuisance, damages, injunctive relief, forfeiture, disgorgement, restitution, and attorneys’ fees, costs, and interest.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Town of Wappinger, NY v. Verizon Communications Inc., et al.
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-09330 
• Court: Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Hunter J. Shkolnik, Paul J. Napoli, Nestor D. Galarza, Salvatore C. Badala, and Shayna E. Sacks (Napoli Shkolnik, PLLC)

Are you a resident of Wappinger, NY? Share your thoughts on this lawsuit in the comments below.