A man contracted to work at the Toyota plant in Buffalo during the water crisis two years ago alleges he had to have his appendix removed after being exposed to the chemical that leaked from Freedom Industries.
Matthew Bess was working as a cleaning crew for Voith Industrial Services at the Toyota plant during the January 2014 chemical leak, in which MCHM leaked into the Elk River from Freedom Industries and contaminated the area's water supply for days. Bess filed a lawsuit against Toyota West Virginia and Voith earlier this month in federal court in Charleston.
Huntington attorney J. Patrick Stephens says Bess was required to pressure wash at the plant during the time the water ban was in place. Bess claims he suffered bodily injury when he "involuntarily drank water and inhaled the vapors while working." As a result, Bess says he had to have his appendix removed.
"Breathing in or drinking water caused his initial health problems," Stephens said. "His medical records corroborate the claim, for the most part."
A spokeswoman for Toyota said Tuesday she wouldn't comment on the litigation and a representative from Voith couldn't be reached for comment.
Bess is also suing Eastman Chemical, the company that manufactures the MCHM; West Virginia American Water and its parent company, American Water Works.
Reach Kate White at kate.white@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1723 or follow @KateLWhite on Twitter.