Environmental Injury


U.S. Navy Working to Clean Up Alameda Contaminated Water

by Staff Blogger | June 2nd, 2014

Anything that is living here on Earth depends on water for survival. If our sources for water here become polluted, it can often have an extremely negative impact on the area’s entire ecosystem. Such concerns have risen here in Alameda after it was discovered that the U.S. Navy had allowed toxic trichloroethene to enter groundwater supplies near Town Center and Seaplane Lagoon, potentially exposing locals to a risk of environmental injury. Experts explain the chemical is a solvent that was used in engine repair centers and is believed to have originated from a railcar leak. The U.S. Navy was about to scrap cleanup plans for the Alameda contaminated water until information came to light that showed vapors from the chemical could seep into nearby buildings, potentially causing serious harm to those who were exposed to the fumes. The Alameda Sun explains that in order to address the problem, the U.S. Navy will begin using a concoction of whey and vegetable oil to eliminate the pollution over a six-year period. While it’s good to see efforts being made to clean the toxic spill, the damage may already be done to some who have been exposed to the pollution. The time frame of a six-year cleanup also leaves a window of potential exposure to the harsh chemicals. At Berg Injury Lawyers, our team of California personal injury attorneys recognizes the risks associated with exposure to toxins in the environment. That’s why we encourage anyone who believes they or a loved one have been harmed as the result of such exposure to discuss their legal rights with a qualified attorney immediately.

Public Meeting in Alameda Will Address Groundwater Contamination Concerns

by Staff Blogger | May 12th, 2014

Industrial byproducts can sometimes find their way into our environment, presenting a serious health risk of environmental injury to people who are exposed to these toxins. Too often, the organizations who produce these wastes fail to take responsibility for their actions by cleaning up the messes they cause, and such a situation may be arising right here in Alameda, California. An article from the San Francisco Gate says the U.S. Navy is considering abandoning plans to clean up contaminated groundwater just east of Alameda Point. Reports indicate that while the contamination sits just underneath a housing development, the government believes the contamination presents no hazards to the area’s residents. The claims sound similar to those made in other situations where it was later determined that the pollution presented a serious health hazard to those who were exposed. The California personal injury attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers encourage citizens to attend a public meeting at 5 p.m. May 20 at the Main Library located on Oak Street and voice their concerns about the contamination and the lack of efforts to clean it up. Doing so will not only help to create a more livable and green community, but it could also prevent you or others from being seriously harmed because of potentially negligent actions.

Lowe’s to Pay $18 Million in Penalties for Dumping Hazardous Waste

by Staff Blogger | April 7th, 2014

Companies in the United States are required by law to properly dispose of hazardous wastes and materials to protect the public from Environmental Injury. When organizations fail to dispose of these materials properly, both criminal and civil litigation may be filed to recoup damages caused by the pollution. Such a case was highlighted in Northern California last week when Lowe’s Home Centers was ordered to pay $18 million in damages for failing to properly dispose of certain hazardous materials. Reports from the San Francisco Appeal explain 118 locations were found to have sent hazardous waste to local landfills, including items such as:
  • Pesticides
  • Aerosols
  • Paints
  • Adhesives
  • Batteries
  • Corrosives
  • Mercury-Containing Fluorescent Bulbs
The judgment includes $12.85 million in civil penalties, while approximately $2 million will be paid to environmental protection projects in areas of California potentially affected by the improper disposal of toxic materials. In addition, Lowe’s must pay more than $3 million to fund hazardous waste minimization projects and will face a permanent injunction on committing such infractions again. The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers explain that little to none of the money will go to individuals affected by the pollution. That’s why the firm urges those who have been harmed by pollutants to discuss their legal rights with a qualified attorney immediately.

Thousands File Claims In Response To Chevron Refinery Fire

by Staff Blogger | August 13th, 2012

August 13, 2012 A fire at a Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, California, just south of San Francisco, has led to thousands of residents filing California environmental injury claims against the company. According to the Associated Press, as many as 3,800 individuals have filed injury claims since the fire erupted following an explosion at the facility this past Monday. In November, an inspection by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board found a corroded pipe that was attached to the line that failed Monday. The failure allowed a gas pocket to build and then ignite, causing the explosion that burned for several hours sending plumes of black smoke into the atmosphere. The smoke sent hundreds of residents rushing into local medical facilities with complaints of breathing problems. The number of residents who were affected prompted Chevron to open a claims center in Richmond where residents can seek damages for the medical bills and other expenses they incurred as a result of the fire. While claims for past fires at the facility may have brought victims thousands of dollars in compensation, experts are saying that the victims in this situation can expect to receive much less. This is why the California personal injury lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers would like to encourage anyone who has suffered because of toxins in their environment to explore what legal options you may have by discussing your case with a knowledgeable and experienced attorney.

California Bans The Use Of Tanning Beds For Minors

by Staff Blogger | October 10th, 2011

October 10, 2011 When Governor Jerry Brown signed State Bill 746 into law Sunday, California became the first state to ban the use of tanning beds for children under 18 years of age. The Oakland Tribune reports that the new law will take effect January 1st of next year. Under current law, the state of California says that it is illegal for children 14-years-old and younger to use the beds, while teens between the age of 15 and 17 need only their parent’s permission to tan. The author of the bill, Senator Ted Lieu, remarked after the bill passed that although 30 other states have restrictions on the age in which children can use indoor tanning facilities, the new law gives California the highest age limit in the country. Every year, as many as 2.5 million teens tan indoors in the United States, increasing their risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent. Research by the Skin Cancer Foundation has uncovered that those who use tanning beds are also 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. The California Defective Product Attorney with Berg Injury Lawyers are happy to see that law makers are taking steps to keep our youth safe and healthy. They would also like to encourage current tanning bed users to consider the health risks involved in tanning.

California community tested for Alameda environmental injury

by bil | July 29th, 2008

July 29, 2008

According to The Oakland Tribune, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is investigating a possible Alameda environmental injury after dangerous levels of hazardous organic compounds were found at a former metal plating site.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control previously found very high levels of trichloroethylene, cis-dichloroethene, trans dichloroethene and vinyl chloride in the possible Alameda environmental injury location.

One woman who has possibly been affected from the Alameda environmental injury suffers from multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and a rare blindness disease. Another woman in the area suffers from cancer, while her children suffer other ailments from their premature births.

Additional residents in the area also fear an Alameda environmental injury from breathing in the potential hazardous compounds in the air.

The Alameda environmental injury case has been under the investigation of the Department of Toxic Substances Control since June 2007 and is ongoing.