Injunction filed in Milwhite Inc. dust case

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An injunction was filed in state District Court on Wednesday asking Milwhite Incorporated to stop operations.

Attorney John Martinez is advocating for the company to be shut down and stop dust from affecting the health and property of residents.

According to Martinez, the dust is used for industrial purposes such as oil fields.

The City of Brownsville filed a lawsuit against Milwhite Inc. after residents on Rey Jaime Street complained about constant dust from the plant covering the neighborhood and making them sick.

"You know it's one of those typical David vs Goliath situations where you have the everyday person going against a corporation that is doing something wrong and harming them," said Martinez. "Those types of cases really call out you know, the little guys need justice too."

Not long after the State of Texas on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality also filed a lawsuit against the company for violations of the Texas Clean Air Act seeking injunctive relief, civil penalties, attorney’s fees and costs and any other available relief under the act.

"We hope that he will grant the injunction. By doing that it will keep them from basically putting the things in the cause that's causing the damage at least until the case is resolved," Martinez said.

The judge is expected to make a ruling on July 9.

Martinez said the request for an injunction is not the end of the case. He said the lawsuits against Milwhite will still move forward.