Trial Starts in South Carolina Pollution Lawsuit Against AVX

A trial for the second of three South Carolina water pollution lawsuits against electronics manufacturer AVX Corp. began in Horry County.

The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reports the trial, started yesterday, involves David and Steve Nance’s claims that contamination from AVX killed their planned condominium project. The lawsuit seeks damages for the inability to build and sell the condos.

AVX lawyers have argued some of the contamination could be from the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. They also are expected to blame the declining real estate market.

The Nances say they had all permits and financing in place by September 2007, but their bank withdrew after the degreaser contamination became public.

That first lawsuit was settled days into trial. Arguments in a class-action lawsuit begin next month.