ST. PAUL, MN – The law firms of Storms Dworak LLC and Liddle Sheets, PC filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of residents of St. Paul’s Payne-Phalen neighborhood against Northern Iron, LLC, and Specialty Metals Holdco, LLC, doing business as the Lawton Standard Co., alleging the foundry’s emissions have caused damage to property values and residents’ ability to use and enjoy their properties.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, March 3, 2025, in the Ramsey County District Court (Case No. 62-CV-25-1454), alleges that the company’s negligent operation and/or maintenance of its facility causes pollutants, including soot and dust, to blanket surrounding residential properties. The plaintiff and proposed class representative, Brittney Bruce, claims that these emissions have damaged property, lowered home values, and forced residents within ½ mile of the facility to endure pollution emitted by the facility.
“We allege Northern Iron has permitted pollutants to invade the homes of St. Paul families for years, despite repeated warnings from environmental regulators,” said Joe Heegaard, one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs. “This lawsuit seeks justice for the residents who have suffered property damage due to what we believe amounts to the company’s disregard for its neighbors.”
The complaint cites multiple violations by Northern Iron, including a 2023 fine of $41,500 imposed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for air quality permit violations. The MPCA’s recent investigation revealed that the soot collecting on neighboring homes contained toxic heavy metals such as lead, chromium, and manganese, meaning it was likely emitted from the foundry.
The lawsuit also highlights the Payne-Phalen neighborhood’s designation as an environmental justice area under Minnesota law, where a significant percentage of residents are people of color and low-income households.
Storms Dworak LLC is a Minnesota law firm that regularly represents plaintiffs in high-profile actions. The firm represents victims in a broad array of different types of litigation, including personal injury, wrongful death, civil rights, employment, and medical malpractice litigation. For more information, visit www.stormsdworak.com.
Liddle Sheets P.C. is a Michigan-based national class action law firm that has represented tens of thousands of residents across the country against companies accused of allowing pollution to cause property damage for more than two decades. Liddle Sheets has achieved settlements in numerous states that have both compensated residents and required polluters to implement facility improvement measures aimed at curbing emissions. For more information, visit www.lsccounsel.com.