<div>As we enter year 6 of the fight to save Forest Lake from a dangerous, unwanted, and unneeded landfill development, I enter year 5 of my legal entanglement with Casella Waste Systems. Obviously, their efforts to silence me have failed, as this is a fight we cannot afford to lose. However, I am asking for your help, once again, as Casella has filed a 2nd lawsuit against me, claiming I violated the terms of the settlement agreement from the 1st lawsuit they brought against me. I believe we will prevail, as the evidence debunking their claim is overwhelming, especially considering there is no evidence that I did violate the terms of our settlement agreement. In fact, the document filed by the Caledonian Record exonerates me.
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<div>However, we now prepare for trial as Casella has amended its initial complaint to include statements made by me relative to my findings that the NCES Landfill is releasing PFAS contaminants, and others, into the watershed of the Ammonoosuc River. My attorney has informed me that a jury trial will be costly, somewhere in the range of $60,000-$100,000 dollars. My legal expenses are already mounting, as we begin to prepare for trial.
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<div>In their amended complaint of February 22, 2024, Casella states no less than 12 times:
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<div>"Swan’s claim is both false and defamatory. The NCES landfill is not releasing contaminants into the Ammonoosuc River watershed."
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<div>Thus, it would appear that the NCES Landfill itself will be on trial.
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<div>It is my firm belief that Casella Waste Systems is seeking to distance itself from financial liability for the widespread PFAS and other contamination present at the NCES Landfill, instead shifting responsibility to the old Consumat Sanco unlined landfill. Mitigation will be extremely costly and it is my firm belief that this will ultimately become a Superfund site. For some reason, NHDES has been extremely cagey relative to who will have to pay, and how, should mitigation be required.
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<div>As stated in our April 25, 2024 response, Casella assumed full responsibility for the property they purchased over 30 years ago, and subsequently built their new "state-of-the-art" double-lined landfill atop the old, unlined landfill, and with the blessing of NHDES.
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<div>I have amassed an arsenal of documentation, including the groundwater monitoring reports submitted to NHDES by Sanborn Head on behalf of NCES/Casella, required under the landfill's GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT &amp; RELEASE DETECTION PERMIT.
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<div>Of course, all of this is just my opinion, based on my years of research, and experience.
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<div>I thank you for your continued support!!
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<div>Jon Swan
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<div>Background and documents:
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<div>April 14, 2020: Casella Waste Systems files defamation complaint against Jon Swan and Save Forest Lake
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<div>(April 15, 2020 <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/3a99e672-2796-498c-8250-9aae47365deb/downloads/4%252015%25202020%2520North%2520Country-Casella%2520Takes%2520On%2520Oppon.pdf?ver=1718646829149" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cal Rec article</a>
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<div>May 11, 2023 Casella v Jon Swan defamation case settled via mediation
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<div>May 18, 2023 <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/3a99e672-2796-498c-8250-9aae47365deb/downloads/Casella%2520Drops%2520Defamation%2520Lawsuit%2520Against%2520Dalto.pdf?ver=1718646829149" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cal Rec article</a>: Casella Drops Defamation Lawsuit Against Dalton Landfill Opponent
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<div>May 25, 2023 <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/3a99e672-2796-498c-8250-9aae47365deb/downloads/5%252025%25202023%2520Complaint(4383131.1).pdf?ver=1718646829149" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breach of settlement suit</a> filed by Casella Waste Systems (proof that Casella was the first to violate the settlement agreement by revealing its presence in this court filing as well as in Merrimack Superior Court on November 27, 2023 with members of the public present)
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<div>September 9, 2023 <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/3a99e672-2796-498c-8250-9aae47365deb/downloads/Emergency%2520Motion%2520of%2520Caledonian%2520and%2520Blechl%2520to%2520Q.pdf?ver=1718646829149" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caledonian Record Motion To Quash Subpoenas</a>
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<div>October 13, 2023 <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/3a99e672-2796-498c-8250-9aae47365deb/downloads/10%252013%25202023%2520Amid%2520legal%2520battle%2520over%2520NH%2520landfill%2520.pdf?ver=1718646829149" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NHPR article</a> : Amid Legal Battle Over NH Landfill Activism, Waste Company Subpoenaed A Reporter
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<div>February 22, 2024 <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/3a99e672-2796-498c-8250-9aae47365deb/downloads/2024_-2-22%2520Casella_s%2520Second%2520Amended%2520Complaint%2520.pdf?ver=1718646829149" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Casella Second Amended Complaint w/Exhibits</a>
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<div>April 25, 2024 <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/3a99e672-2796-498c-8250-9aae47365deb/downloads/2024-4-25%2520Answer_Defenses_%2520Counter_%25202nd%2520Amende.pdf?ver=1718646829149" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Defense Answers w/Exhibit A</a>
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<div>May 21, 2024: <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/3a99e672-2796-498c-8250-9aae47365deb/downloads/2024-5-21%2520Notice%2520of%2520Jury%2520Trial%2520%2520TMC%252012_20_24%253B%2520.pdf?ver=1718646829149" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Notice of Jury Trial</a>
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<div>(weeks of January 7 and 13, 2025)
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Diane Wilhelm

Dana Nute

Denise StJean

michael Laramie

Mary Miller

Bonnie Boswell

Megan Smith

Teresa Nagle

Carl Querfurth

bruce berk

Tom Banit

Judith Lindsey

Anonymous

Marcia Hammon

Rebecca Limberg

Jon Swan v Casella Waste Systems Jury Trial Expenses

Jon Swan v Casella Waste Systems Jury Trial Expenses

Still $15,935 to go. Help us build momentum.