On Chicago's Far Southeast Side, neighbors say a vegetable-oil processing plant has turned backyards and parks into no-go zones, with a stench so strong it chases people indoors. Now those same residents have just days left to decide whether to stay in a class action over the smell or step aside and keep their individual legal options open. Notices sent in December automatically swept most households into the lawsuit unless they mailed a formal exclusion, turning a long-simmering quality-of-life fight into a high-stakes legal decision for anyone hoping to sue Pullman Innovations on their own.
Roughly 2,400 households received those notices in December, alerting nearby residents that a lawsuit seeking an undetermined cash settlement has been certified in the Circuit Court of Cook County and covers people who have lived in the area since 2018, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The company at the center of it all, Pullman Innovations, operates at 2701 E. 100th Street and refines vegetable oil used in animal feed, neighbors and city records say. State records also show Pullman sought a permit earlier this month to install equipment aimed at cutting some emissions, the SunTimes reported.
How to opt out and what it means
Staying in the class means residents give up the right to sue Pullman Innovations on their own. To be excluded, they must mail a signed exclusion request that includes their full legal name, the addresses of any residential property within four miles of the plant that they owned or rented since March 8, 2018, and a copy of a state ID. The court notice in Oscar J. Ortega v. A-F Acquisition, LLC d/b/a Pullman Innovations (Case No. 2023CH02274) says exclusion requests have to be postmarked by January 16, 2026, and mailed to Liddle Sheets P.C. in Detroit. The notice includes a detailed map of the affected area and step-by-step instructions for opting out or staying in the case. Liddle Sheets P.C. notice
Neighbors say the smell makes them sick
Residents living about three blocks from the plant told reporters the odor can be so overpowering it makes them feel physically ill. One neighbor said she has to keep her windows shut and burn incense just to tolerate being inside her own home. Lead plaintiff Oscar Ortega says he cannot comfortably take a walk in his neighborhood or host backyard gatherings because of the persistent stench. Those on-the-record interviews were detailed by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Enforcement history and company response
Neighbors and local activists say the odor problems at the site go back well before Pullman Innovations took over from Agri-Fine in 2016. Agri-Fine itself was previously sued by the Illinois attorney general for violations at the facility. More recent local reporting shows Pullman Innovations pleaded guilty to several nuisance citations in 2022 and paid roughly $12,000 in fines, while community leaders continue to push for tougher monitoring and stronger enforcement. The pattern of complaints, inspections and citations has been closely tracked by Block Club Chicago and other outlets.
What city and state officials say
City health officials say they are working with the facility on odor-control options and routinely investigate complaints from the neighborhood. Federal officials say they are aware of reports about the plant and are monitoring compliance. Alderman Peter Chico has been pushing for additional testing around the facility and has called for a neighborhood town hall to press for short-term fixes and a longer-term plan to reduce odors. Local television coverage summarized those agency responses along with the alderman's outreach efforts. ABC7 Chicago
Residents who live within the class boundaries and want detailed information on exclusion, membership, deadlines, or eligibility are directed to the official court notice and the law firms representing the class for instructions and contact information. The notice lists the website LSCcounsel.com/Pullman and a hotline at 1-800-536-0045 for questions about the case and key dates. Liddle Sheets P.C. notice
