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Mass & Toxic Torts

Increased focus on environmental and health hazards associated with the production, handling, and disposal of hazardous materials has led to a sharp increase in mass personal injury and property damage litigation by individuals alleging harmful consequences from potential exposure to substances such as asbestos, toxic fumes or waste, byproducts of manufacturing, and household products such as lawn chemicals or prescription medication.

Our mass and toxic torts attorneys handle thousands of cases in state and federal courts involving exposure to a variety of allegedly toxic substances such as asbestos, lead paint, silica, TCE, and benzene. In addition, we defend companies and governmental agencies against allegations of injury due to hazardous waste sites. Our clients have the benefit of a large litigation support team comprised of well-trained paralegals and legal assistants experienced with these types of claims.

In addition to toxic exposures, our team routinely counsels clients on a wide array of product-recall issues. Our attorneys have successfully worked with an international manufacturer of security devices, an international manufacturer of electrical products, and several food manufacturers and distributors on product recalls and withdrawals. From the initial investigation and evaluation to the development of an effective internal and external communication plan to giving full and appropriate notice to actual and potential customers, our cross-disciplinary team addresses all aspects of a recall with the goal of a successful defense should a products liability case be brought and litigated.

Our team has extensive experience representing defendants who find themselves involved in multi-plaintiff torts arising out of a wide variety of circumstances. Our attorneys have been handling mass tort cases for over 35 years and provide clients with the experience and counsel needed to get results.

Specific examples of our attorneys’ experience include:

• Represented a local municipality in connection with the disposal of chemicals at a landfill by various companies with alleged personal injuries and diminution of property value.
• Represented companies and individual land owners in connection with the defense of claims of property damage and personal injury arising out of oils spills and seepage.
• Defended a propane distributor through discovery and trial preparation in matters arising from an explosion that resulted in multiple deaths, injuries, and property damage.
• Represented a government authority in multiple mass torts, including alleged personal injuries and property damage arising from hazardous waste sites and improper operations resulting in flooding and property damage.
• Defended a nursing agency for alleged actions out of a multiple-fatality fire.
• Successfully counseled an international manufacturer of security devices, an international manufacturer of electrical products, and several food manufacturers and distributors on product recalls and withdrawals.
• Represented a defendant with multiple lawsuits in state and federal court following the crash of Colgan Flight 3407.
• Represented a company that used beryllium in its manufacturing process in claimed exposure matters.
• Represented site owners, governmental entities, and alleged material disposers in claimed toxic-exposure cases.
• Represented plaintiffs in a variety of matters arising out of alleged exposure to toxic chemicals and waste, including over 600 plaintiffs in the first wave of litigation in the early 1980s from the disposal of chemicals at the Love Canal.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a property owner to dismiss a claim of toxic-lead exposure based on lack of notice and successfully defended the subsequent appeal by the plaintiff to the NYS Appellate Division and Court of Appeals.
• Represented an international renewable-energy company in mass-tort action brought by plaintiffs for alleged nuisance, property damages, and personal injuries from exposure to wind turbine noise.
• Represented an orthopedic surgeon in MDL 1014, the pedicle screw litigation, including arguing before the JPML that the cases pending with our client should not be incorporated into the MDL.