Oil spills may cause extensive damage—to property, to livelihoods, to animals, to the environment, and to the health of people in the area. This class action brings suit against Amplify Energy Corporation, its subsidiary Beta Operating Company, LLC, and possible unnamed corporations for an oil spill that occurred on or around October 1, 2021. The spill is in the area of the California coast, from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach and reports claim it comes from the Elly Oil rig.
The class for this action is all natural persons or businesses that have been harmed because of the Elly oil rig spill or breach that took place on or around October 1, 2021.
The Elly oil rig and pipeline, owned by Amplify and operated by Beta, were built in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the complaint suggests. The pipeline is almost eighteen miles long. Although the exact source of the leak has not yet been fixed, reports claim it comes from the Elly rig.
The complaint alleges, “At the time of the filing of this complaint, at least 126,000 gallons of oil were spilled into the Pacific Ocean…” Also, “deceased animals were washing up covered in oil on the shoreline of the Affected Area and a large ecological reserve nearby had suffered tremendous damage.” This is Talbert Marsh, which is home to many species of birds. The complaint puts the area of the oil spill at around 8,320 acres, which the complaint claims is larger than Santa Monica.
The Orange County Health Care Agency issued a health advisory “to recommend those who may have encountered the contaminated materials [] seek medical attention.” It mentioned both direct contact, from walking in a contaminated area, such as the beach, or by inhaling “toxic oil vapors or other aerosolized oil compound particles from wind-blown waves[.]”
Beaches in Orange County have been closed and may remain so for months.
The plaintiff in this case, Peter Moses Gutierrez, Jr., owns a disc jockey company that performs at events on Huntington Beach. He is facing a loss of business due to the closure of the beach because of the oil spill; as a resident of the area as well, he believes he has been or will be exposed to toxins from the spill.
The complaint claims that “the corporations that run oil rigs and pipelines assume the risk of oil spills when they undertake the responsibility required to run those entities” and that when they fail in their responsibility “can be catastrophic for the people, the environment, and the defenseless animals who suffer from all of the damage that flows from a breached rig or pipeline.”
The counts include negligence and private nuisance/trespass, among other things.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Environmental
Most Recent Case Event
Huntington Beach Elly Pipeline Oil Spill California Complaint
October 4, 2021
Oil spills may cause extensive damage—to property, to livelihoods, to animals, to the environment, and to the health of people in the area. This class action brings suit against Amplify Energy Corporation, its subsidiary Beta Operating Company, LLC, and possible unnamed corporations for an oil spill that occurred on or around October 1, 2021. The spill is in the area of the California coast, from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach and reports claim it comes from the Elly Oil rig.
Huntington Beach Elly Pipeline Oil Spill California ComplaintCase Event History
Huntington Beach Elly Pipeline Oil Spill California Complaint
October 4, 2021
Oil spills may cause extensive damage—to property, to livelihoods, to animals, to the environment, and to the health of people in the area. This class action brings suit against Amplify Energy Corporation, its subsidiary Beta Operating Company, LLC, and possible unnamed corporations for an oil spill that occurred on or around October 1, 2021. The spill is in the area of the California coast, from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach and reports claim it comes from the Elly Oil rig.
Huntington Beach Elly Pipeline Oil Spill California Complaint