Creosote Litigation
If you are an existing client, please contact us at the Creosote hotline & creosote-claims email.
Dear Client:
Case History & Current Status
Ashworth v. International Paper Co. (2:20-cv-00053) was filed as a class action in January 2020 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana (Lake Charles Division).
Shortly after the case was filed, defendants Occidental Petroleum Corporation (“Occidental”) and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (“Anadarko”) initiated litigation against me personally and the lead plaintiff in federal court in New York. They alleged that our case violated a 2014 ruling issued in New York, which they claimed barred individuals in DeRidder, including you, from bringing claims against them in Louisiana.
As a result, the Louisiana court stayed (paused) our case for several years while this issue was litigated in New York. After extensive legal proceedings, we successfully prevailed in New York federal court, which allowed our claims in Louisiana to move forward.
Although there was no evidence that Occidental or Anadarko operated facilities responsible for the contamination in DeRidder, and while their appeal was still pending, they made the decision to resolve their involvement in the litigation. They agreed to pay to bring an end to all claims against them in both New York and Louisiana. Given their lack of operational involvement in DeRidder, this resolution was appropriate.
In January 2025, Occidental and Anadarko agreed to pay $3.5 million to cover litigation expenses (“hard costs”) necessary to advance the case. These funds are designated exclusively for case-related expenses such as expert fees, depositions, travel, court costs, and other necessary expenditures required to identify the responsible parties. These funds will not be used for attorney fees.
This case involves both property damage and personal injury claims and is highly complex. The facility at issue operated from 1955 to 1997, and our experts are working to reconstruct historical operations to determine what hazardous materials were released, where they traveled, and what impact they “more likely than not” had on surrounding properties and human health.
We have been actively reviewing documents produced by International Paper, which began production last year and continues as of this update.
Recent Developments
In March, we conducted the first two depositions of International Paper representatives. These depositions, along with the ongoing document production, are helping us determine key facts, including:
- The types and quantities of hazardous materials involved
- Where those materials were released (air, land, and subsurface water)
- How those materials may have impacted people and surrounding areas
We are required to present the Court with a proposed class definition by July 1 of this year. This will address both property contamination and personal injury claims.
What We Need From You
Please complete and return any intake forms we have requested. This information is essential for evaluating and properly categorizing your claim. Your cooperation is critical to moving the case forward.
To assist with this process, we are holding client-only meetings and will also continue reaching out by phone.
Client Meeting Information
Dates: May 12–13, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location:
Cole-Miers VFW Post 3619
1115 LA-27
DeRidder, LA 70634
Purpose:
- In-person case update from your legal team
- Review and update client files
- Collect any outstanding documents or information
Please make every effort to attend and bring any requested materials you have not yet provided.
Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and trust throughout this complex matter. After years of procedural delays, the case is now moving forward at a much faster pace. We look forward to seeing you in person at one of the meetings above.
On behalf of your legal team—including attorneys from David L. Wallace, Glenn Agre, and Sanders Law Firm, LLC, along with our dedicated support staff—
Sincerely,
Perry R. Sanders, Jr.