PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is suing a medical waste company for repayment of GE Economic Development funds. 

A lawsuit filed on June 13 says PathogenX "failed to establish actual and ongoing operations in the City of Pittsfield and furthermore failed to register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth to conduct business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." 

In April, the city ordered the company to repay $70,000 that has been disbursed under the $150,000 agreement. As of mid-June, repayments hadn't been made, and Pittsfield officials allege that they were lied to about PathogenX's legitimacy and ability to bring operations to the city. 

"As outlined in the Grant Agreement, the company was required to relocate its operations to Pittsfield and employ a minimum of three (3) individuals in the City by December 31, 2023, with continued operating and staffing levels to be maintained thereafter," an April 7 notice of default and demand of repayment reads.  

"To date, PathogenX has failed to establish operations in Pittsfield and has no employees located within the City." 

In 2023, the City Council allocated $150,000 of General Electric economic development funds to support the company developing a stand-alone onsite device that utilizes thermal heat to convert medical waste into safer waste by killing pathogens, bacteria, and viruses.

At the time, CEO Charles "Chuck" Berkeley, a Pittsfield native, said he wanted to start moving forward immediately with the goal of establishing a manufacturing facility and developing generation two technology by the end of 2024.

Now, a link to the company's website in a 2023 iBerkshires article no longer works, and its status on Pitchbook.com is "out of business." The city alleges that the company "operated as a shell corporation, failed to observe corporate formalities, and was dominated and controlled entirely by Charles Berkeley for personal gain."