Sponsored By

Massachusetts declines to intervene in JM Eagle lawsuitMassachusetts declines to intervene in JM Eagle lawsuit

Massachusetts is the latest in a list of states to file papers with the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles declining to intervene in a lawsuit against JM Eagle, the world's largest manufacturer of plastic pipe, according to the company. The formal declination by the Massachusetts attorney general continues a pattern of developments that has undermined the lawsuit brought on behalf of a fired ex-JM Eagle employee by the law firm Phillips & Cohen LLP.

Clare Goldsberry

June 9, 2010

1 Min Read
Plastics Today logo in a gray background | Plastics Today

In the complaint, 11 states and the District of Columbia were initially named by the plaintiff's counsel and "real parties in interest"—a listing that essentially invited those states and DC to join, or "intervene," in the lawsuit. Only four states have chosen to do so while California, where the lawsuit was filed, Florida, and now Massachusetts have formally ddeclined to intervene, leaving just four stated and DC still to decide. These decisions by three major states support the growing perception that the case against JM Eagle is unfounded.

The Massachusetts decision comes on the heels of one of the plaintiff's key witnesses, Brian Wang, denying in a sworn statement that he ever said JM Eagle intentionally compromised the quality of its pipe. After reading quotes from the Second Amended Complaint that were falsely attributed to him by Phillips & Cohen, Brian Wang, a long-time plant manager, gave a sworn affidavit claiming the falsity of the quotes.

"We are pleased and gratified that Massachusetts has agreed with a growing number of governmental entities and decided not to be a party to this baseless lawsuit," said Neal Gordon, JM Eagle's VP of marketing. "The more states and local governments learn about the facts of the case, the less they want to have anything to do with it."

JM Eagle vigorously denies the lawsuit's allegations about the quality of its pipe.

About the Author

Clare Goldsberry

Until she retired in September 2021, Clare Goldsberry reported on the plastics industry for more than 30 years. In addition to the 10,000+ articles she has written, by her own estimation, she is the author of several books, including The Business of Injection Molding: How to succeed as a custom molder and Purchasing Injection Molds: A buyers guide. Goldsberry is a member of the Plastics Pioneers Association. She reflected on her long career in "Time to Say Good-Bye."

Sign up for PlasticsToday newsletter

You May Also Like