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Phelps Dunbar LLP Logo

Environmental Litigation

When environmental litigation arises, businesses need swift and methodical counsel who understand the technical as well as the practical aspects of the action.

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J. Alan Harrell Alan Harrell photograph

J. Alan Harrell

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We combine technical and scientific skill with decades of practical courtroom experience, focusing on delivering results for our clients to get them back on track.

We regularly handle toxic tort litigation, including cases involving historic property contamination, hazardous material releases, chemical products liability and personal injury exposures. We have defended numerous environmental mass tort and class actions and actions by NGOs and our attorneys include seasoned trial litigators. We have also defended legacy litigation and coastal erosion matters. We are experienced in the negotiation and litigation of Responsible Party status and funding allocation in CERCLA matters and their state equivalents.

Services

Our clients turn to us to find solutions for a range of cases, including but not limited to:

  • Historic property contamination
  • Hazardous material releases
  • Chemical products liability
  • Personal injury exposures
  • Mass tort
  • Toxic tort
  • Class action

Experience

Defended product manufacturers in cases involving claims of occupational exposure to benzene.
Defended chemical manufacturers and other entities in tort actions related to alleged historic subsurface contamination, including multi-party and mass tort actions.
Defended multiple landfills and waste management facilities in nuisance and subsurface contamination cases across several states.
Defended railroads in multiple tort actions related to derailments and corresponding spills of chemicals, including multi-party and mass tort actions.
Defending water utility in mass tort claims relating to the quality of drinking water.
Defended oil and gas exploration and production companies in connection with “legacy” suits alleging contamination from operations in Louisiana.
Defended oil and gas exploration and production companies in litigation alleging operations contributed to coastal land loss in Louisiana.
Defended environmental insurer in class action and citizen suit litigation relating to hazardous waste injection well facility.
Litigated “stigma” damages claims sustained by owner of industrial property.
Litigated complex indemnity-based litigation arising from PCB and chlorinated solvent contamination.

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