Legal Defense Against Environmental and Toxic Tort Claims
The attorneys at Harris, Karstaedt, Jamison & Powers, P.C. have extensive experience defending insurers and insureds against claims by individuals who have allegedly been injured by exposure to toxic substances or environmental pollutants. We represent corporate clients against individual claimants and in class action lawsuits seeking recovery of money damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage and punitive damages.
Members of the firm have been involved in the defense against environmental and toxic tort claims arising from alleged environmental contamination since the onset of these claims in the mid-1980s. Our environmental defense lawyers have defended alleged polluters — gas stations and jobbers, refiners, pipeline owners, manufacturing companies, schools and school districts, retailers — against both property damage and personal injury claims resulting from:
- Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination, including gasoline, diesel and MTBE
- Radiation and electromagnetic energy
- Asbestos, PCBs, heavy metals, solvents and pesticides
- Cosmetics
- Hazardous waste
- Medical products and devices, pharmaceutical products
- Tobacco
Environmental Litigation
The firm has represented insurers in massive declaratory judgment actions to determine which insurer was responsible for coverage and the extent of the required coverage for environmental contamination alleged to have occurred as far back as the beginning of the 20th century. Representative cases include:
- A 2001 case in which lawyers from the firm defended and won a personal injury suit brought by 41 plaintiffs who claimed injury as a result of alleged indoor air contamination at a Pueblo, Colorado middle school. The trial lasted seven weeks and included testimony from 19 different expert witnesses.
- The successful defense of the Denver Water Board in response to claims that chemical contamination to a drinking water reservoir had resulted in an unusual pattern of childhood cancer in a remote Denver neighborhood.
- Defense of a regional gasoline retailer on claims involving alleged leaking of an underground storage tank that contaminated a town water supply.
- Defense of a retailer accused of contaminating leased property.
- Defense of an agency action against a bulk storage facility
- Defense of an environmental remediation firm in connection with extensive PCB contamination of a steel mill.
Administrative Actions
We represent companies in administrative actions regarding alleged pollution, water rights and natural resources:
- Assisting with consent decrees in connection with CDPHE actions against retailers, metal fabricators and tank farms
- Helping with air permitting issues, discharge permits and permits for remediation equipment
When you are facing a toxic tort claim or environmental lawsuit, contact an experienced trial lawyer at the law firm of Harris, Karstaedt, Jamison & Powers, P.C.
