The Westminster PFAS case, explained for the residents it affects.
Silver Golub & Teitell represents Westminster residents who allege that PFAS from the MassNatural composting facility contaminated their wells and property. This site reports what has happened in the case, what comes next, and how to reach our team.
- Case
- Ryan v. The Newark Group, Inc., No. 4:22-cv-40089-MRG, with the related case Ryan v. EIDP, Inc., No. 4:25-cv-40026-MRG
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- Judge
- Margaret R. Guzman
- Where it stands
- Residents have asked the Court to certify four classes. The Court has not yet ruled.
Case updates
Each update explains a filing or ruling in plain language and identifies the public court document it describes.
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We write when something important happens in the case.
What the case is about
A plain-language summary of the claims. The Court has not decided whether the allegations are true.
The allegations
Residents allege that paper mill sludge and other materials containing PFAS were brought to the MassNatural composting facility in Westminster, and that PFAS then moved into the groundwater and the private wells nearby.
What PFAS are
PFAS are manufactured chemicals used to make paper, fabric, and other products resist grease and water. They break down very slowly. Massachusetts limits six PFAS compounds in drinking water, known together as PFAS6, to 20 parts per trillion.
What residents seek
Residents seek compensation for lost property value and for living with water treatment systems, refunds for contaminated compost, and a medical monitoring program, which would pay for regular medical testing to detect illness early.
Am I included?
Plaintiffs have asked the Court to let the case proceed on behalf of four groups. You may belong to more than one.
Property owners
You own, or have owned, property within the Contamination Plume at any time on or after January 31, 2022. Owners who sold after that date are included.
Homes with a treatment system
You own a home in the Contamination Plume where a MassDEP-approved consultant measured PFAS6 above 20 parts per trillion, and a point-of-entry treatment (POET) system has been installed and maintained.
Compost buyers
You bought compost products from MassNatural between January 1, 1981 and May 17, 2022 that Plaintiffs allege were contaminated. You do not need to live in Westminster.
Medical monitoring
You lived in a home within the Contamination Plume at any time since 1987 and drank water from its PFAS6-contaminated well. Children born to residents who met these criteria at the time of birth are also included.
The Court has not certified any class.
If the Court certifies a class, members will receive a formal notice explaining their rights and choices. You do not need to contact us to be a class member. Contacting us helps our team understand how your household has been affected and lets us keep you informed.
The proposed Contamination Plume is mapped in the report of Plaintiffs’ hydrogeology expert, Dr. Donald Siegel (Dkt. No. 577-1, Figure 2 and Appendix 3). [Add plume map or address lookup.]
A quick check
Select any that describe you. Nothing you select is saved or sent.
Select a statement above to see which proposed groups may describe you.
What happens next
Class certification is the Court’s decision whether one case can resolve the claims of everyone in a group. These are the remaining steps before that decision.
Dates as ordered at Dkt. No. 589. Court schedules can change, and we will post any change here.
Who represents residents
Silver Golub & Teitell LLP represents individuals in class actions involving environmental contamination, consumer protection, and privacy. [Add firm PFAS experience and co-counsel.]
Experts who filed reports for residents
- Dr. Donald SiegelGroundwater and the plume
- Dr. Erica DiFilippoSources of the PFAS
- Dr. Philippe GrandjeanPFAS and health
- Dr. Alan DucatmanMedical monitoring program
- Dr. Robert SimonsProperty values
Common questions
If your question is not answered here, call or write to us.
Does it cost anything to talk with you?
No. Speaking with our team is free. [Confirm fee disclosure language.]
Do I need to sign up to be part of the case?
No. If the Court certifies a class, everyone who meets the class definition is included unless they choose to opt out, and members will receive a formal notice. Contacting us now lets us learn about your property and keep you informed.
I sold my house. Am I still included?
Possibly. The proposed Property Damage Class includes anyone who owned property in the Contamination Plume on or after January 31, 2022, including owners who have since sold. If you lived in the plume and drank well water, you may also fall within the proposed Medical Monitoring Class.
Is my water safe to drink?
We cannot answer that question for your home. Please follow the testing and treatment guidance from MassDEP and the Westminster Board of Health. The town posts PFAS information at westminsterpfas.com [confirm current link].
When will the case be over?
We do not know. The Court is scheduled to hear argument on class certification on February 26, 2027. Any trial or settlement would come later, and neither is guaranteed.
Will the companies know that I contacted you?
We treat what you share with us as confidential. [Confirm language.]
Tell us how PFAS has affected your home.
Every household’s experience helps us present the case to the Court. An attorney or a member of our team will reply within [two business days].
- Call
- (203) 325-4491
- Community meeting
- [Date and time], [location in Westminster]
- Write
- Silver Golub & Teitell LLP, One Landmark Square, 15th Floor, Stamford, Connecticut 06901. [Email address]
Thank you. We received your message.
An attorney or a member of our team will reply within [two business days]. If your question is urgent, call us at (203) 325-4491.