Settlements and Verdicts

Water SamplesJanesville, WI: (Feb-18-08) The Wisconsin Attorney General's office brought charges against Govert Well and Pump of Janesville, alleging that the local well drilling company falsified water samples.

The suit claimed that the company falsified well water samples, required in all new Wisconsin wells to check for coliform bacteria.

Employees allegedly collected water from a break room sink, microwaved it and then packaged it for mailing. It further alleged that the company didn't place well casing pipe deep enough in four wells, didn't properly install cement grout around some casing, and filed late water sample and well construction reports.

Sources close to the case revealed that a settlement had been reached in the suit, in which Govert Well and Pump agreed to an out-of-court settlement in which it must re-sample 836 wells, fix four wells, and pay a $100,000 fine.

Company sources stated that the settlement was not an admission of liability, but a way to avoid the costs and risks associated with protracted litigation. The deal requires that well repairs and re-sampling must be done within nine months, and if re-sampling can't be done in that time, each well owner must be paid $50.