PETER S. KOVACS FILED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT APRIL 23, 2008 IN THE MARION COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT ON BEHALF OF TWO PLAINTIFFS AND OVER 250,000 RESIDENTIAL WATER CUSTOMERS SERVED BY VEOLIA WATER IN CENTRAL INDIANA.

PETER S. KOVACS FILED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT APRIL 23, 2008 IN THE MARION COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT ON BEHALF OF TWO PLAINTIFFS AND OVER 250,000 RESIDENTIAL WATER CUSTOMERS SERVED BY VEOLIA WATER IN CENTRAL INDIANA.

The complaint alleges Veolia Water failed to read the meters of its customers at least every two months as required by law and overestimated water usage for thousands of its customers.  The complaint also alleges that Veolia Water overcharged their customers for late fees as well as breached their agreement with Indianapolis Water, and committed deceptive acts including fraud.  The complaint has been filed individually on behalf of David Lear, an Indianapolis resident, Jason Bond, a Zionsville resident, and seeks class action status on behalf of all 250,000 residential customers served by Veolia Water in Central Indiana.

“Within recent weeks, local media coverage has revealed widespread concern about the misconduct of Veolia Water in reading and estimating water bills.  We believe the facts will show that Veolia Water has harmed its customers in Central Indiana by the conduct described in the complaint”, stated Peter Kovacs, the attorney filing the complaint.

Under a 20-year management agreement Veolia Water manages and operates the water works of Indianapolis Water, a department of the City of Indianapolis.  Veolia Water receives in excess of $33,000,000 per year from the City of Indianapolis under this contract with the city.  In 2007 Veolia Water received over $9,000,000 in incentive payments from the City of Indianapolis (in addition to the yearly payment) for meeting certain benchmarks including “meter reading” and “revenue enhancement.”

Exhibit A, the Management Agreement between the Indianapolis Water and Veolia Water may be accessed HERE. Please access the Complaint with Exhibit B, HERE. 

You may contact Mr. Kovacs at 317-396-9522 for further comment.   Thank you.