BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — The state of Rhode Island and its Department of Environmental Management are suing a vessel owner and its operators over environmental damage stemming from an oil spill.
The state filed a complaint on Oct. 19 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the defendants, Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc., Tug Evening Tide Corp. and B. No. 120 Corp., alleging that they failed to follow applicable safety guidelines and regulations and violated the Oil Pollution Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that on April 27, 2003, the state of Rhode Island suffered damage to its natural resources, and incurred costs to assess and evaluate the damage, and destruction to the waters of the state. Birds, aquatic life, and lands and beaches adjacent to the spill area also suffered as a result of the discharge of oil into the waters and shorelines from the defendants' tank barge, which was being towed at that time by co-defendant Evening Tide.
The plaintiffs hold the companies responsible because the defendants allegedly caused environmental damage along 100 miles of beach and shoreline.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against the defendants for damages, costs to maintain the action and other relief as the court deems just. They are represented by Christina A. Hoefsmit of the Department of Environmental Management's Office of Legal Services in Providence, R.I.
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts Case number 17-C-12048