Todd Hartford filed a class-action lawsuit in Toledo over an industrial storage tank chemical leak. The legal action seeks damages for displaced neighbors and closed local businesses. The filing names multiple defendants in Lucas County Common Pleas court documents.
Todd Hartford owns Hartford’s Fencing & Landscaping LLC. He is suing M.C. Tank Transport, Kenan Advantage Group, Inc. and plant manager Albert Dudek. The lawsuit claims negligence, recklessness, nuisance and strict liability for an abnormally dangerous activity.
The action stems from an Oct. 20 release of glycidyl methacrylate, known as GMA. The chemical leaked from a tank at the MC Tank Terminal on Progress Avenue. GMA is an industrial monomer used in resins, coatings and adhesives.
The chemical can cause serious health issues, according to the lawsuit. These symptoms include coughing, throat burning, shortness of breath and severe irritation. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer identifies it as a probable carcinogen.
The leak caused local emergency responses. Toledo Fire & Rescue ordered an evacuation for everyone within one mile of MC Tank. Officials also issued a three-mile shelter-in-place order telling residents to shut windows and doors.
Both safety orders stayed active for over 12 hours, the lawsuit states. Hartford said the incident displaced him from his home. He also said the chemical release forced his Toledo business to shut down.
Hartford is seeking class-action status for other displaced residents and closed companies. The lawsuit claims the facility failed to maintain the tank’s chemical stabilizer. It also alleges the facility failed to track temperature and pressure.
The suit accuses the business of failing to inspect its safety systems. Hartford claims the defendants understood the hazards of the chemical. These risks included runaway polymerization, possible explosions and cancer.
The filing claims bulk storage near homes was reckless. It also alleges the release invaded properties without owner consent. Hartford is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
The lawsuit details how many people lived near the facility:
- About 1,379 residents in 581 housing units inside the one-mile evacuation zone
- About 49,527 residents in 22,940 housing units inside the three-mile shelter zone
- At least 389 businesses and facilities within three miles of the terminal
- 35 businesses situated directly inside the evacuation zone
Kenan Advantage Group bought M.C. Tank Transport in March 2025. The lawsuit claims Kenan controlled safety policies, staffing, procedures and budgets. It states Dudek oversaw tank storage, handling and terminal maintenance.
A class-action lawsuit allows one person to sue on behalf of a larger group with similar claims. The court must review the filing before deciding whether to certify the proposed class. The legal process determines if shared questions of fact apply to all members.
The 15-page complaint was filed by Hartford in Lucas County court following the Toledo chemical leak.
