In December 2025, Taft’s client, the Town of Andrews, Indiana, agreed to a landmark $7.65 million settlement with RTX/Raytheon to address decades-old groundwater contamination caused by trichloroethylene (TCE) from the former United Technologies facility. For years, the contamination plume extended southwest into the town’s municipal wellfield, threatening its water supply.

Taft Indianapolis partners Tom Barnard and Rodney Michael led the negotiations, earning high praise from Council President Laura Dillon, who called the outcome “a significant step toward securing reliable water for our community.” The client described the result as transformative, saying Taft “saved their town.” This agreement marks the end of a 30-year struggle for an uncontaminated wellfield. For more coverage of this matter, visit here.

The Taft team also included Indianapolis of counsel Benjamin Wolowski and paralegal Kristina Kendall.

Barnard has substantial experience in class actions and other complex litigation, particularly involving environmental, insurance coverage, takings, and securities issues. For over 40 years, he has represented clients in federal and state courts from Indiana to Washington, D.C.

Michael focuses his practice on complex environmental and toxic tort matters. His environmental practice is broad ranging and includes representing families in cases involving contaminated drinking water, as well as representing businesses involved in cleanup actions ordered by regulatory authorities.

Wolowski focuses his practice on environmental litigation, with a particular emphasis on complex toxic tort litigation in state and federal court.