Cumberland Farms and six other companies filed the suit more than three years ago in a Pennsylvania federal district court on behalf of the two waste haulers' approximately 500,000 customers nationwide. The settlement followed the failure of the defendants' motion for dismissal of the case. Waste industry observers such as Brian Lipsett of the Citizen's Clearinghouse for Hazardous Wastes see the payment as a validation of the plaintiffs' accusations.
Critics argue that the companies settled to prevent public disclosure of their criminal activities.
The settlement will effectively bury the numerous documents and depositions introduced by plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit. This settlement shows just how far the companies will go to keep the lid on the seamy side of the business. Ultimately that will be the most effective deterrent to corporate crime. This move was precipitated by an attempt by Waste Management Inc. to become an EGA member. EGA consists of 90 foundations that fund national public policy and grassroots groups working for environmental protection.