Whistleblower Case Against JM Eagle Unaffected by Dismissal of Los Angeles Utility

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Dec 15, 2011, 08:34 ET

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Phillips & Cohen LLP issued the following statement regarding a federal court decision earlier this week granting the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power's request to be dismissed from a whistleblower case the law firm has brought against JM Eagle alleging the company manufactured and sold substandard PVC pipe used in water systems.

"The judge simply granted the request of the LADWP, which determined after a lengthy investigation that it hadn't purchased any JM Eagle pipe. We supported that decision. We are continuing to pursue this case on behalf of three states and 42 cities and water districts."

"Four other cities tried to join the lawsuit against JM Eagle because they use JM Eagle pipe in their water systems. But JM Eagle went to court to block them from joining."

"JM Eagle's typical tirade in its press release attacking us and our client is simply an effort to distract attention from the serious allegations in our lawsuit: That JM Eagle sold substandard pipe to reduce its costs and increase its revenues at its customers' expense. We are prepared to prove that at trial, which is scheduled to begin in July 2012."

The court order dismissing LADWP from the case is posted at http://www.phillipsandcohen.com/P-C-News/Order-dismissing-LADWP-from-Us-ex-rel-Hendrix-v-JM-Mfg-00038880.PDF.

For more information about this case, see the following:

The second amended complaint (lawsuit) filed against JM Eagle (http://www.phillipsandcohen.com/lawsuit.pdf)
The federal government's presentation of information it had gathered from numerous former employees who were interviewed by federal agents is available through PACER (subscription required), US District Court for the Central District of California, PACER login: https://ecf.cacd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. Case No. 5:06-cv-00055-GW. See No. 128 on docket sheet (Memorandum In Opposition To Ex Parte Application To Expedite Discovery), item no. 7 (exhibit 6).
A photo of a JM Eagle pipe that cracked and broke in the Calleguas Municipal Water District in Thousand Oaks, California, can be found at http://www.phillipsandcohen.com/2010/pipe-with-missing-piece-Calleguas.JPG.

www.phillipsandcohen.com

SOURCE Phillips & Cohen LLP