Environmental and Toxic Torts Litigation

The modern concept of the environment as a planetary, interconnected system that requires protection dates back roughly to the middle of the 20th century. Environmental legislation is even more recent, beginning in the 1970s with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

These laws recognize the relationship between environmental protection and public health. Over time they have evolved to reflect a better understanding of the connection between human actions and natural systems.

The environmental movement has also come to recognize that harmful industrial practices often have a disproportionate impact on low-income minority communities.

Litigation is a key tool in the fight to preserve healthy ecosystems and hold environmental lawbreakers accountable. It has been observed that, “In no other political and social movement has litigation played such an important and dominant role [as in the environmental movement].”

But in today’s globalized world, pollutants—and polluters—are not always local. Corporations have expanded their reach and ability to cause harm. When an Anglo-American mining company devastates a rural Brazilian village, or emissions from an international energy company lead to climate-change related damages in municipalities worldwide, environmental litigation is more challenging. Today, holding environmental bad actors accountable requires a law firm that can prosecuted cases internationally as well as domestically.

Milberg’s Environmental Practice

In our proud tradition of effectuating meaningful change through litigation, Milberg is well-positioned to represent victims of environmental malfeasance. Our environmental litigation practice focuses on representing clients in mass torts, class actions, multi-district litigation, regulatory enforcement, citizen suits, and other complex environmental and toxic tort matters. We have held leadership roles in all facets of litigation in coordinated proceedings, with a particular focus on developing the building blocks to establish general causation, which is often the most difficult obstacle in an environmental or toxic tort case.

Milberg pursues remedies for those suffering economic losses such as diminished property values or loss of use and enjoyment damages. Our attorneys work hand-in-hand with academics, medical professionals, environmental advocacy groups, and regulatory bodies worldwide on behalf of clients seeking protection from environmental harm.

Focus Areas of Practice:

• Complex Environmental Emissions Fraud Litigation
• Chemical Exposure
• Water/Soil Contamination
• Compliance and Environmental Counseling
• Land Use
• Sustainability and Climate Change
• Environmental Justice

Currently, our team is engaged on behalf of a diverse group of cities, states, commonwealths, and territories, both in the United States and abroad, pursuing, investigating, and litigating cases involving matters that include:

• Emissions
• Wildfires
• Toxic chemicals in the air, land, and water
• Storage tanks
• Climate change
• Dam failure
• Roundup
• PFAS

The companies involved in harmful environmental practices are some of the largest, wealthiest, and most influential corporations in the world. As an internationally-recognized plaintiffs’ firm, Milberg has the strength and resources to represent clients seeking to enforce their environmental rights against well-financed corporations—wherever they operate. Since the firm’s founding in 1965, Milberg and its affiliates have recovered over $50 billion for our clients.

To discuss how Milberg can help you or your team respond to environmental harms, or to learn more about our capabilities in this area, please get in touch with our team leader or your preferred Milberg contact.