Ritz-Carlton Ordered To Pay L.A. County In Environmental Lawsuit

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA — The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. illegally disposed of hazardous waste at properties in Los Angeles and Marina Del Rey and six others in the state, and now it will pay for those violations, a judge ruled this week.

In total, the company was ordered to pay $535,000 in civil penalties and other costs due to environmental violations. The final judgment was signed Monday by Riverside County Superior Court Judge Kira L. Klatcho.

The payout is the result of an investigation by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Riverside County District Attorney's Office and five other Golden State counties and one city into the unlawful disposal of hazardous waste by the Delaware-based LLC over the last several years at its eight California hotels, including Ritz-Carltons in Marina Del Rey and L.A.

The lawsuit alleged that instead of storing, transporting, and disposing of hazardous waste at authorized facilities, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company unlawfully dumped it in the trash and illegally transported it to local landfills not permitted to receive the rubbish.

The hazardous waste included, but was not limited to, batteries, electronic devices, ignitable liquids, aerosol products, cleaning agents and other flammable, reactive, toxic and corrosive materials, according to the lawsuit.

A request for comment was not immediately returned from the company, but a news release from Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin stated, "The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has implemented improved policies and procedures as well as improved training programs to properly manage and dispose of hazardous waste. The company’s hazardous waste is now collected by state-registered haulers to properly transport it to authorized disposal facilities and is being properly documented."

In total, the judgment requires The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company to pay $400,000 in civil penalties and $35,000 in cost reimbursement. An additional $100,000 will go to fund environmental projects furthering environmental enforcement in California.

The lawsuit against The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company was brought by Hestrin and district attorney’s offices in Orange, Los Angeles, Placer, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties, as well as the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.

ALSO SEE:

• Home-Invasion Attempt Blocked As Resident Shoots At Intruders In L.A.
• Arrests Made In Fatal Shooting Of Off-Duty, Rookie Cop
• L.A. Mayoral Candidate Karen Bass Gains Sen. Padilla's Endorsement
• More Police Patrols Planned For Hollywood Due To Crime Spike