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Lewisville approves retention of contingency counsel to probe microplastics claims
Summary
Council unanimously authorized the city manager to retain Gman & Kelly LLP (with local counsel Kettler & Brown) on a contingency basis to test municipal water and pursue claims in a multi‑district litigation involving microplastics; staff noted a June deadline to submit claims if tests are positive.
Lewisville City Council on March 16 authorized the city manager to enter a contingency fee agreement with Gman & Kelly LLP and local counsel Kettler & Brown to evaluate and, if warranted, pursue claims tied to a multi‑jurisdictional microplastics litigation.
A staff presenter explained that several large companies have entered billion‑dollar settlements in related cases and that the firm would conduct testing and claims work at no upfront cost to the city. Council discussed whether any surrounding jurisdictions had already tested positive; staff said they were not aware of nearby positives and emphasized the time sensitivity. "The deadline to submit a claim is in June," a staff member said, urging the city to retain counsel to preserve eligibility if tests show contamination.
Council members asked about fees and were told the contingency arrangement would be a standard third‑of‑recovery share for the law firm. Council voted unanimously to bring Resolution 26‑13 to the table and approve it.
The city manager was authorized to execute the agreement; staff said testing and any claim would proceed only if evidence of contamination is found.
