$1.3M To Tunnel Worker Over Exposure to Toxic Sludge
The Passaic Valley Water Commission paid $1.3M on January 4, 2005 to a former maintenance repair carpenter who claimed he was disabled by exposure to toxic chemicals.
In 2000, Gregg Hunziker was working on a project to modernize equipment in tunnels where Passaic River water is chemically treated and chlorinated for drinking use. His job was to drill through dried sludge, containing toxins and pollutants such as manganese, lead and mercury, but his argument was that of not having the proper protective equipment nor sufficient warning of this danger.
Hunziker started experiencing tremors, loss of grip strength, hand and leg weakness and other neurological effects symptomatic of Parkinson’s disease. He underwent therapy to leach the metals out of his blood and took a disability leave. To this day, he continues to take medication for his Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms.
- Mary P. Gallagher, New Jersey Law Journal
