Garden Grove chemical emergency spurs new plaintiffs' legal coalition

Multiple plaintiffs' personal injury firms announced they are joining forces to represent residents, workers and businesses affected by the Garden Grove chemical emergency tied to aircraft manufacturer GKN Aerospace's overheating chemical storage tank in Orange County.

While work continued through the weekend to stabilize the tank and ensure the area is safe, the first reported lawsuit was filed, giving an indication of probable causes of action although no physical injuries tied to the chemical had been reported by Tuesday.

The federal complaint filed by the X-Law Group PC and Presidio Law Firm LLP lists six claims against GKN Aerospace entities and its parent company Melrose Industries PLC: negligence, trespass, private nuisance, public nuisance, strict liability for ultrahazardous activity and trespass to chattels/conversion. Page et al. v. GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems Inc. et al., 8:26-cv-01293 (C.D. Cal., filed May 23, 2026).

Signed by X-Law Group partner Filippo Marchino, the complaint alleges the defendants negligently stored, maintained and monitored methyl methacrylate, or MMA, at the Garden Grove facility, leading to emergency evacuation orders and widespread disruption throughout western Orange County.

Marchino said it is too early to determine whether the litigation will evolve into a broader toxic tort case involving future exposure or injury claims. "We need to see what happens," he said. "We're hopeful it does not turn into a toxic tort."

Filippo Marchino of X-Law Group

His clients claim the incident caused displacement, loss of property, emotional distress, diminution in value and contamination concerns. The complaint also reserves the right to pursue future toxic exposure and medical-monitoring claims.

A second similar federal action was filed Tuesday afternoon in the same court by Litteral LLP partner Sean L. Litteral. The complaint asserts the same core claims but additionally seeks a court-supervised medical monitoring program for evacuees allegedly exposed to hazardous substances. Sanchez v. GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems Inc. et al., 8:26-cv-01296 (C.D. Cal., filed May 26, 2026).

GKN Aerospace has since apologized for the disruption caused by the incident and said it is continuing to work with the Orange County Fire Authority and other agencies to mitigate the ongoing risk of a leak as crews monitor the compromised tank and portions of the evacuation zone remain in place.

In a joint statement Monday, ACTS LAW, Becker Law Group and Nguyen Lawyers ALC said they are partnering to pursue claims stemming from what they described as an "environmental catastrophe" that forced tens of thousands of residents from their homes.

Minh T. Nguyen of Nguyen Lawyers

"This is a disaster of unimaginable proportions, and it's a crisis that is changing every day," ACTS LAW managing partner Danny Abir said. "An environmental catastrophe of this magnitude requires a team of law firms working together to help families, business owners, residents and entire communities."

Abir is joined by Becker Law partner Todd Becker and Nguyen Lawyers founder Minh T. Nguyen, who provided separate statements about how the three firms complement each other to help those affected.

Separately, PARRIS Law Firm on Tuesday announced it is offering counsel to what it called "Garden Grove chemical leak survivors." Officials have said Tuesday they had so far prevented a leak.

In a news release, the Lancaster-based firm pointed to its role in the 2015 Porter Ranch gas leak litigation, where plaintiffs' attorneys secured a $1.8 billion settlement in 2021 against Southern California Gas Co. and Sempra Energy.

"Families should not have to carry the financial and emotional burden of a preventable industrial disaster," PARRIS Law founder and Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris said in a statement. "Our firm is prepared to help Garden Grove residents understand their rights and determine who should be held responsible."

In response to the emergency, GKN Aerospace said in a statement: "We are continuing to work around the clock with the OCFA, the EPA and all the relevant federal, state and local agencies to mitigate the ongoing risk of a leak. ... We apologize for the ongoing disruption this incident is causing, and our priority remains its safe resolution, so that residents can return to their homes as quickly as possible."

In an email Tuesday, Marchino said his clients are currently focused on evacuation-related harms and property damage while he and his team continue evaluating potential toxic exposure claims for the federal lawsuit.

"It is impossible, in the aerospace industry, to reach a point where a tank containing MMA is so unstable as to cause the evacuation of 50,000 people without there being negligence, at best, or outright recklessness" Marchino said.

"In other words, this would be similar to someone looking at the tires of a cab that crashed and noticing that the tires were bald and on the wires. You don't get to tires like that without negligence."

Joining Marchino in the federal action are others at his firm and Presidio Law founder Lawrence J. Conlan.

The Garden Grove incident began on May 21 after emergency crews responded to GKN Aerospace following what officials described as a dangerous flammable industrial chemical used in plastics and aerospace manufacturing. Authorities warned the overheating tank could rupture, leak hazardous chemicals or trigger a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion, known as a BLEVE.

Before Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency related to the incident on Saturday, evacuation orders expanded across parts of Garden Grove, Anaheim, Stanton, Cypress, Buena Park and Westminster. Authorities said 40,000 to 50,000 residents fell within evacuation and shelter-in-place zones over the weekend, while schools and businesses closed and emergency shelters opened throughout western Orange County.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer also announced his office is investigating the aerospace company.

In a video announcement posted to X on Monday, fire officials said the threat of a BLEVE "has been eliminated" after a crack in the tank relieved pressure. This allowed about 65% of evacuated residents to return home while roughly 16,000 people remained under evacuation orders.

Officials said the situation remains active despite the reduced risk, warning there is still potential for a smaller explosion, fire or chemical leak as crews continue cooling and monitoring operations around the tank.