Attorneys working with environmental activist Erin Brockovich filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against TVA in connection with the Dec. 22 ash spill near its plant in Kingston, Tenn.

The suit was filed in Knoxville on behalf of 109 Roane County residents in the Kingston and Harriman, Tenn., area who say they have been affected by the 1.1 billion gallon coal ash sludge spill, said Robin Greenwald, chief environmental lawyer for New York-based Weitz & Luxenberg.

Ms. Greenwald said the lawsuit is not a class-action case and the filing does not specify the damages each client seeks.

“A lot is unknown right now, and there is a lot one needs to know to determine the damages,” Ms. Greenwald said.

TVA spokesman John Moulton said the utility has not seen the suit.

Ms. Greenwald and Ms. Brockovich visited the ash spill site in January. She is known for helping win a $333 million settlement from the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. in 1996 over contaminated groundwater.