A group of Auburn residents has filed a lawsuit against the City of Auburn, alleging that prolonged exposure to contaminated water has led to a cluster of brain tumors and other serious health conditions. The suit was originally reported by The Auburn Citizen on Tuesday.
The plaintiffs—Keisha Boothman, Elizabeth Hazzard, Bridget Raftis, and several unnamed individuals—claim that the city’s negligence in maintaining and treating its water supply has exposed residents to dangerous levels of toxins. The lawsuit, filed in Cayuga County Supreme Court, accuses the city of failing to prevent contamination despite knowing that Owasco Lake, the city’s primary water source, has repeatedly been affected by harmful algal blooms and other pollutants since at least 2005.
According to the complaint, all three named plaintiffs live within a ten-block radius and have developed aggressive brain tumors, a pattern they argue is linked to long-term exposure to environmental toxins in the city’s drinking water. The lawsuit states that the city failed to properly treat its water supply, allowing harmful substances such as cyanotoxins, disinfectant by-products, and biohazards to enter the system, directly endangering residents.
The plaintiffs, represented by Westfall Law PLLC, are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, citing negligence, breach of contract, and public nuisance. They also allege that the city misrepresented the safety of its water, misleading residents into believing it was safe for consumption. The lawsuit further contends that the city ignored warning signs, including documented cases of algal bloom contamination and state reports highlighting risks to the water supply.
The case will proceed in Cayuga County Supreme Court. City officials have not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
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