Settlement reached in Cole County fuel leak lawsuit

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A lawsuit filed by Cole County after a 2023 fuel leak has been settled out of court.

The lawsuit, filed in April, accused Neumayer Equipment Company of breach of contract and negligence.

It claimed Neumayer incorrectly installed a fuel system, which caused the leak on July 24, 2023. More than 1,000 gallons of fuel polluted the Moreau River and surrounding areas.

Online court records show the case was dismissed on June 23 with prejudice.

In a statement to ABC 17 News, the lawsuit was dismissed as part of the settlement terms between the county and the insurance company.

The settlement shared by the county states the two agreed Neumayer's insurance company would pay $446,592.86 in exchange for further court action.

The release of claims document states that the settlement resolves the claims against the company. This includes any demands, cause of action, damages, attorney fees and other compensation related to the fuel leak.

Sean Counihan, of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Environmental Services Program, told ABC 17 News in an email that no fuel was seen in the Moreau River, “only the small creek/tributary that traverses the Lincoln University farm property,” according to previous reporting.