by Williams Cedar, LLC | Aug 31, 2022 | Uncategorized
A recent study by the Yale School of Public Health has found that children that live near fracking sites are at a higher risk of developing leukemia. The study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, shows that children that live within two kilometers of a fracking site are between two to three times more likely to develop acute lymphoblastic leukemia between the ages of two and seven. This study shows the high risk that the practice poses to people, despite claims that energy companies are taking appropriate measures to protect public health.
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by Williams Cedar, LLC | Aug 31, 2022 | Uncategorized
You may sometimes hear references in the media to a “toxic tort” case. But what is a “toxic tort,” and why might it matter to you?
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by Williams Cedar, LLC | Aug 31, 2022 | Environmental Law, Personal Injury Law
According to a recent study, as many as nine million people every year are killed around the world as a result of environmental pollution. The total cost to the global economy as a result of this pollution is estimated to be around $4.6 trillion per year, resulting from health care costs and other expenses caused by unmitigated pollution. While Africa is the hardest hit region in the world, there are still many places in America where people are sickened and killed by pollution every year.
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by Williams Cedar, LLC | Aug 24, 2022 | Product Liability Law, Personal Injury Law
Banana Boat has issued a recall for its Hair and Scalp Sunscreen after trace amounts of benzene were detected in three batches of the product. This recall is meant to protect people from unintentional exposure to the toxic chemical, which can make them seriously sick, or even kill people in high enough doses. Anyone who has one of the affected batches of sunscreen should cease use of them and discard them immediately.
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by Williams Cedar, LLC | Aug 11, 2022 | Firm News
After being passed in the U.S. Senate after a series of delays, the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 has become law. Gerald J. Williams, Partner, Williams Cedar LLP, says that this law will help even more veterans who have been exposed to toxins on the battlefield to get the medical help they need from the Veterans Administration (VA) hospital.
On July 17, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022. While in the U.S. Senate, the bill was held up, citing “administrative issues,” but, on August 2, 2022, it finally passed. On August 10, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the bill into law.
The Honoring the PACT Act of 2002 will cover those who were exposed to noxious fumes from “burn pits” while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Agent Orange while stationed in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa and Johnston Atoll. It will also cover those who were exposed to contaminated water while stationed at or living near Camp Lejeune for 30 days cumulatively between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987.
Under the Act, more combat veterans who served after September 11, 2001 will be covered by the VA healthcare system. In addition, 23 medical conditions related to burn pit exposure will be included in the VA’s list of service presumptions, including hypertension.
“We are glad to see the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 being finally signed into law,” Mr. Williams said. “The Act will now allow returning service members who became sickened from toxins while deployed overseas to get the medical coverage they need. Millions of our veterans weren’t eligible for coverage because their illnesses weren’t considered to be ‘service-connected’ at the time. The Act changes that.”
Williams Cedar represents individuals and communities who have been exposed to toxic chemicals and whose water, soil, air or work environment has become polluted by harmful chemicals. They also represent clients in personal injury lawsuits such as toxic torts, in which a client claims they have been harmed by exposure to a hazardous substance. Occupational toxic torts are more common because the worker has suffered long-term exposure to harmful chemicals on the job site. In addition, the firm has successfully represented our veterans with their disability claims.
