Federal Judge Grants Tetra Tech Immunity in Hunters Point Homeowners Radiation Lawsuit

In a nine-page opinion, U.S. District Judge James Donato dismissed the homeowners' claims against Tetra Tech, ruling the contractor is protected by the Price-Anderson Act because the plaintiffs did not demonstrate bodily injury, sickness, death, or damage to property. The lawsuit stemmed from accusations that Tetra Tech EC instructed workers to replace high-radiation soil samples with cleaner ones during the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard cleanup, a site once used for nuclear experiments and ship decontamination.

Plaintiffs, who bought homes on the former shipyard, argued the fraud depressed property values and harmed low-income residents. Attorneys Bradley Bowles and Anne Marie Murphy called the ruling “hugely disappointing” and said they will explore further legal options. Earlier settlements with developers Lennar Corporation and Five Point Holdings resolved separate claims, but Tetra Tech remained in litigation until the recent judgment. Although the judge criticized Tetra Tech for delaying the defense, he affirmed that the law precludes recovery in this case.