Attorney Offers GKN Lawsuit Blueprint for OC Evacuees

At least one California attorney predicts that the long-term impact on adjacent property values of the compromised Garden Grove chemical storage tank hinges on what investigators will uncover.

Sweet James Accident Attorneys national managing partner Bobby Taghavi warned that chemical incidents can leave a stigma on affected neighborhoods.

“Buyers may ask whether the area is safe and whether this could happen again,” Taghavi said. “Also, it is unknown how the air and soil were affected and if there is any long-term impact on the surrounding environment.”

Taghavi was referring to a May 21 incident in which methyl methacrylate was released from the GKN Aerospace facility on Western Avenue when one of its storage tanks began overheating.

MMA is a toxic chemical used to manufacture aircraft cockpit windows and shields.

The incident occurred on the verge of the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Key areas of investigation could include hazardous material storage, fire safety, emergency response, Cal/OSHA compliance, environmental rules, and reporting requirements, according to Taghavi.

“One facility caused tens of thousands of people to evacuate,” he said. “That raises serious questions about safety planning, maintenance, and whether the community understood the risk.”

Although it is in the Los Angeles area, Garden Grove is an Orange County city.

GKN Lawsuits

More than 30 state and federal lawsuits have been filed against GKN Aerospace including by homeowners who were forced to evacuate across Garden Grove, Anaheim, and surrounding Orange County communities.

Taghavi noted that the number of complaints will likely shape what damages are recognized and whether claims move forward as a class action or individual cases. Affected residents are actively seeking compensation for property value losses, lost wages, and relocation costs incurred during the crisis.

To build a successful case for diminished property value, Taghavi advised collecting concrete evidence linking the chemical emergency to a homeowner’s financial loss.

“The big issues will be exposure, evacuation losses, health concerns, and property impact,” Taghavi told OrangeCountyLawyers.com.

Documents such as appraisals, comparable sales data, real estate expert opinions, buyer feedback, environmental reports, and insurance communications can serve as evidence.

However, evidence of physical damage is not always required, according to Taghavi.

“If the incident reduces buyer confidence, creates disclosure concerns, or impacts market demand, homeowners may have a claim,” he said.

Potentially hotel costs, food, transportation, lost wages, childcare, medical visits, cleaning costs, property damage, and other out-of-pocket expenses tied to the evacuation or exposure can be reimbursed.

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In addition, tenants could likewise be eligible for compensation.

“Renters may not have a home-value claim, but they still have rights,” Taghavi added. “They can seek damages for displacement, loss of use, personal property, lost wages, medical issues, and emotional distress.”

GKN Aerospace established a $3 million community fund through the Orange County United Way’s OC Community Resilience Fund.

The fund was created to provide emergency financial aid to lower income families, displaced residents, and small business owners.

To access a payment, residents are urged to call 2-1-1 Orange County where they will undergo triage that prioritizes aid for people in severe financial crises.

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