TOLEDO, Ohio — Eight people have sued M.C. Tank Transport and its parent company, the Kenan Advantage Group, over the October 20 chemical release in North Toledo, according to an announcement Tuesday from the law firms Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy and Groth & Associates. The lawsuit, identified in the firms’ announcement by case number CI2026-04646, was filed on behalf of eight individuals who say they were harmed by the release.
The complaint alleges the defendants failed to follow proper safety procedures while transferring the chemical glycidyl methacrylate, known as GMA, and that heat applied during the transfer set off a chemical reaction that released the substance into the air for nearly 48 hours, the firms said in their announcement. The complaint also alleges Kenan failed to provide adequate safety oversight, training and procedures despite a history of federal safety citations, according to the announcement.
GMA is a highly flammable industrial monomer used in plastics, paints, coatings and adhesives, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer — the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency — classifies it as a probable human carcinogen, the firms’ announcement said. People exposed to the chemical, especially those close to the leak, have reported intense skin and eye irritation, nausea, vomiting, headaches and sore throats, according to the announcement.
“For nearly two days, a chemical poured into the air over North Toledo,” attorney Molly Ebraheim said in the firms’ announcement. “Families at home, workers on the job, and travelers just passing through all breathed it in, and now they are forced to live with the fear of what this chemical may do to their health years from now.” The case is being handled by Nurenberg Paris attorneys Jordan Lebovitz, Jeff Heller and Ebraheim, the announcement said.
The October 20 release at M.C. Tank’s Toledo operation forced evacuations in North Toledo that lasted for days while crews worked to contain the chemical and clear the area. The incident became one of the most disruptive industrial accidents in the city’s recent history, closing roads and pushing residents from their homes as officials monitored air quality around the site.
The lawsuit seeks to hold M.C. Tank Transport and the Kenan Advantage Group accountable for the harm caused to North Toledo residents, workers and travelers, the firms said. The companies had not publicly responded to the lawsuit in the firms’ announcement, and the allegations in the complaint have not been tested in court.
The two firms are encouraging anyone who believes they were affected by the October 20 release to contact them for a free, confidential consultation, according to the announcement. The case will now move through the court system, where the defendants will have an opportunity to answer the complaint.
Photo: Limpfster94, CC BY-SA