LOS ANGELES, Calif.— Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Holly J. Mitchell, Supervisor to the Second District, released the following statement in response to the County’s lawsuit to recover costs and injunctive relief for the Dominguez Channel Odor Incident caused by a warehouse fire releasing chemicals into the channel:

The property owners responsible for the warehouse fire that released chemicals into the Dominguez Channel must pay for their unlawful business practices that cost the County millions in damages and aid and more importantly, inflicted physical and mental harm on our residents. Today’s lawsuit filing is critical to our ongoing efforts to seek accountability for the thousands of residents in Carson and surrounding communities that endured- for several weeks – the stench that emanated from the Dominguez Channel.

I want to share my gratitude for the multiple government agencies and County departments that have been working tirelessly with my office to investigate the cause of this unprecedented incident and provide rapid aid to our communities. While this lawsuit will not heal all the harm and inconvenience experienced by the thousands of impacted residents, it will help ensure the individuals at fault pay for the pain they caused that could have been prevented. It is also my intent for this lawsuit to send a clear message that businesses that blatantly violate their responsibility in protecting the health and wellbeing of our communities will be held accountable.

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