Toxic Tort Defense For Businesses And Industrial Operators

Toxic tort cases are often complex due to environmental and medical factors. Since 1989, Wilbraham, Lawler & Buba, P.C., has become a trusted firm for defending against these claims. Our lawyers pay close attention to details and work hard for our clients, and this has helped us win many cases, both in court and through settlements.

Major corporations, property owners and industrial operations trust us to defend them in toxic tort cases. We’ve successfully handled thousands of these cases, not just in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and West Virginia, but across the whole country.

Our team knows how to deal with the tricky parts of toxic tort cases. We’ve helped many clients get good results, whether that means winning in court, settling for a fair amount or getting cases dismissed.

Defending Against Toxic Exposure Claims

Our attorneys defend clients against claims of harm from a wide range of toxic substances and environmental contaminates. Our team works together to create strong defense plans that protect our clients now and in the future. We partner with medical experts to build better defense strategies. We also have a large database of court testimonies and scientific research, which is managed by skilled paralegals.

Furthermore, we believe in working closely with our clients. Our approach combines our legal knowledge with our clients’ understanding of their business. This teamwork helps us create more effective defenses.

Thanks to their experience, skill and tenacity, our lawyers are respected in the field. We often speak at national events and give presentations to insurance companies, business leaders and other lawyers about toxic tort defense.

Innovative Approaches In Toxic Tort Defense

Over the years, our attorneys have developed several advanced strategies to defend our clients:

• Expert witness coordination: We work with leading scientists and medical professionals to build strong, fact-based defenses.
• Regulatory compliance defenses: Our team leverages clients’ adherence to industry regulations as a key defense strategy.
• Mass tort management: We excel at coordinating large-scale defenses, which helps us control costs while maintaining quality representation.

As a respected toxic tort law firm, we combine legal skill with deep industry knowledge to create effective defense strategies.

Your Ally In Toxic Tort Litigation

With over 35 years in the field, Wilbraham, Lawler & Buba, P.C., has earned the trust of insurers and industrial clients nationwide. Our collaborative team of toxic tort defense attorneys brings together diverse experience to tackle the most difficult cases.

We provide full legal support, backed by a strong understanding of the science involved. More importantly, we work hard to defend our clients while also being smart about costs, always aiming for a good balance between cost and efficiency.

Furthermore, our lawyers understand many different industries, from manufacturing facilities to construction sites. This helps us understand the special problems each client faces. We’ve successfully defended cases involving many types of harmful substances, including asbestos, talc and various chemicals.

Industries And Clients We Defend

Our toxic tort defense practice serves many industries across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and West Virginia. We represent clients who face exposure claims related to their operations, properties or products, including:

• Manufacturing and industrial operations
• Chemical production and distribution companies
• Oil and gas operators
• Construction and property development firms
• Transportation and logistics companies
• Retail and commercial property owners
• Municipalities and government entities
• Healthcare facilities

Each industry faces unique regulatory requirements. We tailor our defense strategies to match those needs.

Toxic Substances And Claim Types We Handle

Our firm defends clients against claims involving many toxic substances. These cases are complex. They require attorneys who understand both the legal standards and the science.

• Asbestos: We handle asbestos exposure claims involving construction materials and industrial insulation. These cases often span decades and require detailed product identification and causation challenges.
• Talc: Talc litigation involves claims of contamination. We contest exposure history and medical causation using expert testimony.
• Benzene: Benzene exposure claims arise in petroleum and chemical manufacturing. We challenge dose calculations through industrial hygiene experts and toxicologists.
• Lead: Lead exposure cases involve paint, plumbing or industrial processes. We contest exposure pathways, dose levels and alternative causes.
• Mold: Mold exposure claims arise in commercial and residential properties and involve complex questions about causation and the extent of health effects. We challenge exposure levels, alternative causes and the scientific basis of plaintiff expert testimony.
• Carbon monoxide: Carbon monoxide exposure claims often involve disputes over the source of the gas and the long-term health effects of low-level exposure. We challenge causation through medical and engineering experts.
• PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances): PFAS litigation is growing fast. These “forever chemicals” appear in firefighting foam, industrial processes and drinking water. PFAS cases involve evolving science and regulatory uncertainty. Our firm stays ahead of these developments.
• TCE, PCBs and silica: We defend claims involving industrial solvents and construction-related exposure. Each requires specific expert testimony.
• Formaldehyde, vinyl chloride and pesticides: We handle claims involving building materials and chemical emissions. We challenge exposure levels and medical causation.
• Welding fumes: Welding fume cases involve claims of neurological injury. We challenge dose calculations and exposure duration.
• Environmental contamination: We handle claims involving soil contamination, groundwater pollution and air quality issues tied to industrial operations and legacy sites.

No matter what substance is involved in your case, we bring the scientific competence and legal experience needed to build a strong defense.

Our Defense Approach

Toxic tort defense requires more than legal knowledge. It demands understanding of science, medicine and regulations.

• Causation challenges: Causation is central in toxic tort cases. We contest exposure history using employment records. We challenge dose relationships through toxicologists. We attack medical causation by retaining physicians who offer other explanations. We use Daubert and Frye standards to exclude unreliable plaintiff expert testimony.
• Product identification disputes: Many cases involve old exposure claims. Plaintiffs often cannot identify the products they say caused their injuries. We challenge this through discovery and expert analysis.
• Regulatory compliance defense: Our clients often followed OSHA standards and EPA regulations. We use that compliance as a key defense strategy.
• Expert witness coordination: We retain leading scientists and medical professionals. Our firm works with top experts across multiple fields. We prepare them thoroughly for testimony.
• Mass tort management: When clients face hundreds of claims at once, we coordinate defenses that control costs. We use centralized case management and shared expert resources.

Each element works together to protect you and achieve the most ideal results.

Multistate Defense Across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware And West Virginia

Toxic tort standards vary across states. Our firm practices in all five states where we have offices – Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and West Virginia. We understand how each state handles exposure history and medical causation.

This matters for clients managing risk across multiple locations. Instead of using different lawyers in each state, our clients get one defense team. We understand the legal landscape across all five states. We tailor strategies to each jurisdiction’s specific standards.

Frequently Asked Questions About Toxic Tort Defense

Business owners facing toxic tort claims often have urgent questions. Here are the ones we hear most:

My company just received a toxic tort lawsuit. What should I do first?

Do not throw away any documents. Keep all records for products mentioned in the lawsuit. Call your insurance company right away. Hire a lawyer before you talk to anyone about the case. Contact us as soon as you get the lawsuit.

What makes toxic tort cases different from other lawsuits?

Proving causation is the biggest challenge. Plaintiffs must prove a specific chemical caused their specific injury. These cases involve lots of facts and science. They often include many defendants and claims going back decades.

We operate in multiple states. Can one law firm handle our defense everywhere?

Yes. Our firm practices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and West Virginia. Having one team who knows all five states works better than hiring different lawyers in each state.

What does it mean to challenge causation?

Plaintiffs must prove two things. First, the chemical can cause the disease they claim. Second, their exposure to that chemical caused their illness. We challenge both using expert witnesses and by questioning their exposure history.

Our company followed all regulations. Does that protect us from being sued?

Following regulations helps your case but doesn’t guarantee you won’t be sued. However, proof that you followed OSHA and EPA rules makes your defense much stronger and weakens their arguments.

Proactive Risk Management

The best defense starts before anyone files a lawsuit. We encourage clients to keep records of how they follow safety rules. Save your chemical lists and safety data sheets. Keep track of what products and materials you use. Call a lawyer early when government agencies ask questions about your operations. Reach out to our team when problems come up. We can help you handle these situations the right way. Taking these steps now makes it much easier to defend your company later.

Get Answers From A Skilled Toxic Tort Defense Lawyer

As plaintiffs’ cases – whether individual lawsuits or class actions – move forward, an intelligent defense begins with thorough preparation. Our experienced attorneys help clients with proven approaches. We make sure that the businesses relying on our advocacy have the most robust defense that we can provide. Use our online contact form or call by phone at 215-564-4141 today.