ExxonMobil faces lawsuit after Arkansas oil spill

CNN Staff
1 minute read
Updated 12:11 PM EDT, Tue April 9, 2013
Spilled crude oil is seen in a drainage ditch near evacuated homes in Mayflower, Arkansas, on Sunday, March 31. An Exxon Mobil pipeline carrying Canadian crude oil ruptured on March 29 causing the evacuation of about two dozen homes. Mayflower residents have filed a class-action lawsuit against the company.
Arkansas oil spill —
Spilled crude oil is seen in a drainage ditch near evacuated homes in Mayflower, Arkansas, on Sunday, March 31. An Exxon Mobil pipeline carrying Canadian crude oil ruptured on March 29 causing the evacuation of about two dozen homes. Mayflower residents have filed a class-action lawsuit against the company.
JACOB SLATON/reuters/LANDOV
Dawson Cove in Mayflower is coated with oil on Saturday, April 6.
Arkansas oil spill —
Dawson Cove in Mayflower is coated with oil on Saturday, April 6.
Courtesy Alyssa Martinez
Oil covers the water and underbrush in Dawson Cove on April 6.
Arkansas oil spill —
Oil covers the water and underbrush in Dawson Cove on April 6.
Courtesy Alyssa Martinez
Workers scrub crude oil from their boots in Mayflower on Monday, April 1.
Arkansas oil spill —
Workers scrub crude oil from their boots in Mayflower on Monday, April 1.
Suzi Parker/reuters/LANDOV
Emergency crews work near Interstate 40 on March 31.
Arkansas oil spill —
Emergency crews work near Interstate 40 on March 31.
JACOB SLATON/reuters/LANDOV
Emergency crews clean up more of the spill in Mayflower.
Arkansas oil spill —
Emergency crews clean up more of the spill in Mayflower.
JACOB SLATON/reuters/LANDOV
Crews clean up in front of evacuated homes on Starlite Road in Mayflower.
Arkansas oil spill —
Crews clean up in front of evacuated homes on Starlite Road in Mayflower.
JACOB SLATON/reuters/LANDOV
A duck from Mayflower is washed at The HAWK Center, a wildlife rehabilitation center.
Arkansas oil spill —
A duck from Mayflower is washed at The HAWK Center, a wildlife rehabilitation center.
Courtesy HAWK Center
A duck is cared for at the HAWK Center.
Arkansas oil spill —
A duck is cared for at the HAWK Center.
Courtesy HAWK Center
Photos: Arkansas oil spill

Story highlights

Residents file a class-action lawsuit, seeking more than $5 million in damages

ExxonMobil has promised to cover oil spill cleanup costs

A pipeline rupture allowed thousands of barrels of crude oil to flow into a residential area

CNN  — 

Residents in Mayflower, Arkansas, have filed a class-action lawsuit against ExxonMobil after a pipeline rupture that allowed thousands of barrels of heavy crude oil to flow into a residential area.

They are seeking more than $5 million in damages.

“This Arkansas class action lawsuit involves the worst crude oil and tar sands spill in Arkansas history,” read the lawsuit, which was filed Friday in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas.

Exxon Mobil promises to cover oil spill cleanup costs

NR Chris Harrell discussion on mayflower arkansas oil spill_00002919.jpg
NR Chris Harrell discussion on mayflower arkansas oil spill_00002919.jpg
video

Rivers of oil in Arkansas town

According to the lawsuit, more than 19,000 barrels were spilled.

ExxonMobil has said that between 3,500 and 5,000 barrels of heavy crude leaked from the ruptured pipeline. It has promised to cover cleanup costs.

Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel opened an investigation into what caused a 2- or 3-inch gash in the underground Pegasus pipeline, which began spewing crude on March 29.

The pipeline carries Canadian crude from Illinois to Texas.

Opinion: Maybe this oil spill will stick

CNN’s Joe Sutton contributed to this report.

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