Fears over Attica water contamination

Two Attica families filed a class action lawsuit against Kraft Global Foods.

The lawsuit alleges the company knew about hazardous cancer-causing chemicals dumped from its RMC property formerly owned by P.R. Mallory and Company. The lawsuit says those chemicals have seeped into some residents' water supply.

The attorneys representing them say this problem could affect people's health and is already affecting their home values.

"All of these investments that are the great nest egg for these families, are worthless," said attorney Shawn Collins.

Attorneys Shawn Collins and Norman Berger said Kraft Global Food Inc. needs to be held accountable for chemicals Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) that have contaminated parts of Attica's drinking water.

"When they're sleeping, when they're walking around, the exposure never stops," said Berger.

Some residents said they want the company held responsible for what it's allegedly done with the chemicals. And they said they're most concerned about the long term affects those chemicals will have on their health.

"Five out of the six people had cancer in three houses on Park Avenue," said resident Tammy Grant.

"We are certainly not saying today that the unfortunate instances of cancer in this community are necessarily attributable to the plant. But I'll also say this, these are the kinds of chemicals that do cause cancer," said Collins.

"Our daughter, and her husband. Our grandson, his wife, and two little children. They're drinking this water. It's serious," said Mary Bowles.

Bowles and her husband filed the lawsuit along with Susan and Patrick Stoll. Bowles sais she doesn't think she'll live to see the issue resolved, but she is hoping for the best.

"I want to see justice. Just justice, I guess," said Bowles.

A statement released by Kraft Foods said, "We continue our efforts to investigate and remediate the Radio Materials Corporation site despite the fact that we never owned or operated the facility, and did not contribute to the conditions at the site. "

Collins argues that by law Kraft is responsible, even though it didn't do the dumping, because it owns the property.

He said a the civil case could take as long as two years to get the resolution they are seeking.