12:30 PM Environment Lawsuits, Environmental Lawyers, Environment Legal Help-LawyersAndSettlements.com | ||||
Environmental law governs any environmental issues regarding individuals, businesses, and government entities. Environment law includes regulations and cleanup regarding hazardous or chemical materials and the consequences of individuals who violate environment statutes; it provides environmental protection for prospective purchasers of environmentally impacted property; and environmental law policy prohibits the dumping of toxic waste or other hazardous materials in our lakes, rivers, streams, and public land. Send your environment claim to a Lawyer who will review your claim at NO COST or obligation. In 1970, The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Environmental Quality Improvement Act; and the National Environmental Education Act were passed; and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created. The main objective of these federal acts was to ensure that the environment is protected against both public and private actions that failed to take account of costs or harms inflicted on the eco-system. The NEPA mandate is to force governmental agencies to consider the effects of their decisions on the environment, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA or EPA) functions to monitor and analyze the environment, conduct research, and work closely with state and local governments to devise pollution control policies. Environmental laws have been put into place by both state and federal ruling and are enforced by the EPA. The EPA is responsible for implementing and enforcing more than twenty-four major environmental statutes that have numerous requirements and are governed by various agencies. Backed by these laws, individuals or groups can bring attention to environmental problems or violations and take action with the help of environmental law firms. For instance, in October , the EPA fined Samsung $205,000 for violating the federal fungicide, insecticide and rodenticide act (FIFRA) by failing to register its products with USEPA when it publicized that its keyboards, produced with nanosilver, were antimicrobial and inhibited germs and bacteria. One month earlier, the EPA filed a lawsuit against the North Face Company, alleging that they sold shoes containing an unregistered pesticide and made unverified health-related claims for about 70 shoe products. The EPA's environmental areas of concern include:
A toxic tort is a particular type of personal injury lawsuit brought against the manufacturer or supplier of a chemical product which causes a toxic injury. Claims usually arise from exposure to pharmaceutical drugs or occupational exposures, such as exposure to benzene, which is has been linked to leukemia. Pharmaceutical toxic tort cases are generally product liability cases—the drug being the defective product. They are often litigated against drug manufacturers and distributors, as well as prescribing physicians. Most all pharmaceutical toxic injury cases are mass tort cases, because a toxic drug is likely consumed by thousands of people. Occupational toxic tort cases differ from workers' compensation claims because they are not brought against the employer. Rather, they are brought against "third parties"—usually manufacturers or distributors of chemicals; the machines or devices that expose the worker to the chemicals; and/or the owners and lessors of premises where the worker was exposed to the toxic chemicals. Asbestos exposure is the most common toxic tort litigation in this area but also difficult to prove because the onset of asbestos-related illness such as mesothelioma can develop years after exposure to asbestos. You can also be exposed to toxic chemicals in your home. Toxic tort litigation covers mold contamination, construction materials such as formaldehyde-treated wood and carpet, lead paint and Chinese Drywall. As well, litigation can involve a consumer product: for example, leukemia claims from exposure to gasoline. For instance, if you rent an apartment in a building containing a toxic material, residents can bring about a toxic tort and your landlord may have to pay for any injuries incurred. Environmental toxic tort litigation is on the rise, particularly against corporations spilling toxic materials. Some Examples:
Brownfields are of great concern to environmental agencies. They are industrial and commercial sites that are either unused or abandoned because questions have been raised regarding their need for environmental cleanup under CERCLA or other environmental statutes. Federal and state programs have provided incentives that encourage state and local governments to voluntarily cleanup and reuse many Brownfields. Numerous states have environmental statutes that differ from federal statutes. If the federal statutes provide more extensive environmental protection, the provisions of state statutes are usually preempted by the federal legislation, requiring the more stringent federal standards to be applied in the state. Conversely, many states have more stringent environmental laws than federal law. If that is the case, more stringent state statutes must be followed unless it is determined that the federal enactment was intended to preempt more stringent state laws. For example, New Jersey's statutes restricting development in wetlands are more stringent than federal law. California has numerous stringent environmental laws, including an environmental advertising law restricting the representation of products as being environmentally friendly, recyclable, or biodegradable unless certain standards are met. Along with the EPA and other federal agencies, every state has an agency responsible for pollution control, and the type and extent of state regulation vary. Although the EPA has delegated the majority of federal environmental laws it administers to state environmental agencies, when the EPA delegates a program to a state, it retains oversight authority over that program. State laws are similar to federal law and common law actions allow environmental protection to property owners who seek legal help for environmental damage and/or injury. Environmental law protects a citizen when purchasing, improving, leasing, or developing real property with indoor air and water quality hazards. Environmental protection includes lead-based paint, lead, asbestos, radon, sick building syndrome, and mold, as they relate to the sale or lease of real property. Federal environmental law includes the rules and regulations governing the renovation and demolition of buildings and the potential tort liability faced by building owners for personal injuries caused by exposure to any hazardous materials, such as asbestos. Anyone can bring a case to court regarding environmental law, including property damage or bodily injury or damages from someone who is violating environmental law. For example, if someone dumps paint or any hazardous material on your property, you could file a lawsuit that will force them to pay for the cleanup. Citizens can also file an environmental lawsuit against companies or organizations that are violating environmental law. However, if the government or other individuals have already started processes to stop a company or organization from violating environmental law, an individual generally will not be allowed to file a suit. If a business or individual is found guilty of violating environmental law and policy, they could face fines, probation or imprisonment, or all three punishments. Enforcement of Federal Environmental Laws Each federal environmental enactment contains specific enforcement provisions usually giving the EPA, or state agencies implementing federal statutes, broad authority to enforce the environmental laws.
Environmental law firms can evaluate cases involving pollution, chemical spills, toxic waste dumping, wetland destruction, land development, solid waste, natural resource usage, wildlife protection and Indian Rights. Some chemical and environmental hazards can lead to serious consumer illnesses and cancers. If you are accusing someone of violating environmental laws, or if you have been accused of violating an environmental law, you should seek help from an environmental lawyer who will advise you on how to proceed with your case. If you are an individual or group with an environmental issue, you will need the help of qualified environmental lawyers. It is important that you find an experienced environmental lawyer to handle your case. LawyersandSettlements makes it easy for you to find the right environmental attorney. We work with attorneys throughout the US and Canada who practice in this specialized area. As well, LawyersandSettlements.com provides comprehensive environmental news coverage that aims to keep the public informed. We provide an online legal news source that includes interviews with environmental attorneys. Back To Top
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