St. John Settles Waste Suit

SANTA ANA — Apparel company St. John Knits has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle a civil lawsuit alleging that the Irvine-based company violated state law by disposing hazardous waste into a sewer line.

St. John Knits admitted no wrongdoing in connection with the allegations by Orange County Dist. Atty. Michael R. Capizzi. County investigators found during intermittent testing that on two occasions hazardous waste had been disposed of in sewer lines serving the company’s plant.

St. John Knits, which cooperated with investigators, agreed to pay the $100,000 to cover civil penalties and to reimburse the county’s sanitation district, health care agency, and Capizzi’s office for their time and expenses. St. John Knits also improved its plant security and environmental compliance programs, Capizzi said.