Florida Waste Facility Must Face Pollution Claims From Fire

A proposed class of Florida residents can press their case that a fire at a waste management facility near Miami exposed them to harmful pollutants, after a federal judge declined to strike some claims.

The residents sued Covanta Dade Renewable Energy LLC over the fire at its Doral, Fla., facility in March. They said that the fire polluted the surrounding areas with smoke, ash, and various chemicals—which increased their risk for cancer, brain damage, and prenatal complications. The contaminants also damaged their properties, they said.

Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga of the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida ...