State Court Dismisses Lawsuits Claiming Neighborhood Polluted by Shell, Developer

LOS ANGELES—A California court has dismissed lawsuits filed against Shell Oil Co. and a housing developer involving a neighborhood built on the site of the oil company’s former tank farm in Carson (Acosta v. Shell Oil Co.).

The April 22 ruling rejected claims filed on behalf of nearly 1,850 Carson residents who alleged that exposure to pollution at the site had caused health problems, property damage, and devaluation of their property.

The Los Angeles County Superior Court concluded the plaintiffs’ complaints failed to “state a valid cause of action under California law’’ and that the statute of limitations ...