The Schmidt Firm, LLP » Toxic Substances

Japan Nuclear Radiation Exposure Lawyer & Lawsuit

The Schmidt FIrm, LLP — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:56:07 +0000

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is actively handling Japan nuclear toxic exposure lawsuits in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been exposed to excessive amounts of radiation while visiting or living in Japan, you should contact us immediately. You may be entitled to compensation and our law firm can help.

Main Overview

The tragic events at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami have the world on edge, fearing unavoidable catastrophic nuclear radiation. Sadly, once radiation is released into the environment, it can contaminate vast areas and is nearly impossible to contain. Contamination levels are non-linear, and individuals far from the radiation site can be affected just as significantly as those within the containment zone. This still-unfolding disaster has come closer than any crisis in modern history to making the fears of toxic nuclear exposure a terrible reality.

Signs & Symptoms of Radiation Exposure

The level of radiation sickness depends on how much radiation has been absorbed by the body. The quantity absorbed depends on the strength of the radiation and the proximity between the individual and the source of radiation. Signs and symptoms of acute radiation exposure include (but are not limited to):

nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
weakness
red itchy skin
sore mouth and throat
anemia
hair loss
bleeding
recurrent infections
cancer
death

Do I Have a Japan Nuclear Radiation Exposure Lawsuit?

Our attorneys are currently accepting Japan nuclear exposure cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been exposed to excessive amounts of radiation while visiting or living in Japan, you should contact us immediately. You may be entitled to compensation and we can help. Please use the form below to contact our Toxic Tort Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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BP Oil Spill Update: Class Action Suit Filed in Alabama

The Schmidt FIrm, LLP — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:49:32 +0000

June 1, 2010 – As oil spreads across the Southern Gulf, so too do the ripple effects of the disaster spread. Early last month, a class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Birmingham on behalf of property owners whose properties in Gulf Shores lie directly in the path of the massive oil slick.

The lawsuit accuses BP of negligence by poorly assessing and containing the damage of the ensuing spill. BP is also accused of intentionally downplaying the anticipated effects of the spill in media statements. According to the suit, BP’s actions following the spill are factors in the subsequent decline of tourism and property values in the affected regions.

Along with the fishing and seafood industries, the Gulf Coast economy has long been dependent on tourism. A spokesman for the legal firm who filed the lawsuit stated that rental cancellations have already extended out for months in response to the disaster.

Over the long term, the oil spill could impact the local industry not just in the typically busy summer months, but for many years to come. Commercial fishing grounds have been closed indefinitely, and local tourism officials fear no one will want to travel to the region’s beaches should they be encased in hazardous sludge.

To date, thousands of lawsuits have been filed by plaintiffs in neighboring states, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. Marinas, restaurants, and boat dealerships have also filed individual lawsuits against BP, Transocean, and other subsidiary companies and contractors.

The Birmingham lawsuit has been proposed as a class-action suit in order to protect the rights of the numerous individual plaintiffs this slick is expected to affect adversely.

Do I Have an Oil Spill Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting oil spill claims in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. If you or somebody you know has suffered an economic loss due to the BP gulf oil spill, you should contact our firm immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Environmental Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Update: BP & Transocean Disagreement in Events Leading to Disaster

The Schmidt FIrm, LLP — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:25:21 +0000

May 27, 2010 – According to testimony in a Louisiana hearing, BP & Transocean managers disagreed on how to proceed with work just hours before the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded. The disagreement, which occurred a mere eight hours prior to the event, ended with BP prevailing and Transocean officials reluctantly agreeing to proceed with work.

The hearing was part of several federal investigations that are being held in Washington and Louisiana to determine the cause of the disaster.

A BP investigator told the House Energy & Commerce Committee that rig operators erred by releasing pressure in a “kill line” while pressure in a drill pipe remained at 1,400 pounds per square inch.

“BP’s investigator indicated that a ‘fundamental mistake’ may have been made here because this was an ‘indicator of a very large abnormality,’” the lawmakers wrote in a summary prepared for members of the House panel.

According to David McKay, a surveyor with Oslo-based Det Norske Veritas SA who testified at the hearing, a 2007 review of the Deepwater Horizon rig found that staff training was deficient, along with “safety critical” items that were overdue.

This week, BP began its most ambitious attempt to plug the leak by pumping mud-like drilling fluid into the well. The effort is aimed at tamping down the gusher of oil and then sealing the well with cement. If the so-called “top kill” method is successful, it would bring an end to the leak that has poured millions of gallons into the Gulf and soiled at least 70 miles of coastline to date.

Do I Have an Oil Spill Lawsuit?

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Update: Fundamental Mistakes led to Disaster

The Schmidt FIrm, LLP — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:11:34 +0000

May 26, 2010 – According to a new congressional memo, Deepwater Horizon oil rig operators made a “fundamental mistake” by ignoring a “very large abnormality” in a pressure test.

The memo stated operators erred by releasing pressure in a “kill line” while pressure in a drill pipe remained at 1,400 pounds per square inch. Operators also missed a series of warning signs prior to the explosion, including indications that more fluid was flowing out of the well than was being pumped in.

In the hours leading up to the blast, a riser pipe had a loss of fluid, suggesting leaks. Two hours before the event, a system gained 15 barrels of fluid when five were expected, suggesting an “influx from the well.” 41 minutes before the explosion, the pump was shut down and pressure unexpectedly increased.

The memo, which was signed on Tuesday and signed by Democratic Representatives Henry Waxman and Bart Stupak, also stated that the operators had trouble with cement used to hold back gas in the well, and a step in the cementing process had to be repeated nine times. A test performed after cementing was completed “may not have been definitive,” and may have been contaminated, making the cement weaker than it was intended to be.

Do I Have an Oil Spill Lawsuit?

Public Frustration at BP Boils Over in Gulf Coast Oil Spill

The Schmidt FIrm, LLP — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:44:11 +0000

May 25, 2010 – As the Gulf Coast oil spill catastrophe grows worse by the day, so too does frustration among the public and government officials. Yet the government’s lead crisis manager said there was little federal authorities could do but continue to let BP try to stop the gusher.

“To push BP out of the way, it would raise a question: Replace them with what?” said Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, who’s leading the federal disaster teams in the Gulf. He said he had consulted with leaders of rival oil companies, who told him that BP appears to be doing what they would do.

Even so, political leaders have continued to trade barbs over the response to the spill by BP and the government amid a rising tide of criticism from both sides.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, speaking to reporters in Louisiana, vowed that the government “will keep our boot on their neck until the job gets done,” repeating a phrase that the White House has used previously to characterize its pressure on BP.

But Louisiana’s Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, speaking at the same press conference, in turn blasted the federal response. “We need more boom. We need more resources. We need the materials we requested to fight this spill,” Mr. Jindal said.

BP’s next attempt to plug the leak will come tomorrow in the form of a complex “top kill” procedure, which Chief Executive Tony Howard warned may not work.

Do I Have an Oil Spill Lawsuit?

BP Oil Spill Update: ‘Top-Kill’ Attempt Delayed Again

The Schmidt FIrm, LLP — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:46:30 +0000

May 24, 2010 – In yet another change of plans by BP to stop the flow of oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico, the company said today that it was further delaying its next attempt to shut off the leak.

BP had originally planned to employ its “top kill” procedure on Tuesday, but has now moved the date back to Wednesday. Doug Suttles, chief operating officer for BP’s exploration and production division noted the difficulties of working at such depths in explaining why the attempt was being delayed.

In response to increasing criticism that the White House has not acted aggressively enough on the catastrophe, the Obama administration is sending Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano into the area today at the head of a bipartisan Congressional delegation.

Over the weekend, the tensions between BP and Louisiana authorities came to a head in Jefferson Parish, where local officials declared they were going to commandeer 40 boats of fishermen when they spotted oil moving past the shoreline beaches through passes into Barataria Bay, which is surrounded by wildlife-rich wetlands.

“BP was not acting quickly enough in getting the skimmers and the booming boats out,” said Thomas Capella, a Jefferson Parish councilman. “If they weren’t going to do it, we’re going to do it ourselves.”

Do I Have an Oil Spill Lawsuit?

BP Oil Spill Update: Napolitano Demands Transparency in Cleanup Efforts

The Schmidt FIrm, LLP — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:27:45 +0000

May 21, 2010 – This week, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano slammed BP’s lack of communication in the Gulf Coast oil spill disaster, and ordered the company
to create a website containing accurate sampling data of the spill within 24 hours.

In a letter to BP CEO Tony Hayward, Napolitano condemned BP’s lack of communication with the public and federal government, saying the company’s efforts “have fallen short in both their scope and effectiveness,” the letter said. “The public and the United States are entitled to nothing less than complete transparency in this matter.”

Also this week, The EPA ordered BP to use a less-toxic product in its cleanup efforts. “Given the unprecedented use, EPA wants to ensure BP is using the least-toxic approved product,” the EPA said in a statement Thursday.

The EPA said it has not yet identified significant effects of dispersants on marine life, but it is still urging caution due to the unprecedented use of chemicals. The agency said it will continue to “closely scrutinize” BP’s activity.

“EPA still reserves the right to stop BP’s use of dispersants under water entirely if the science indicates that this dispersant method has negative impacts on the environment that outweighs its benefits,” the agency said.

Do I Have an Oil Spill Lawsuit?

Dock, Pier and Boat Ramp Loss of Business Lawsuit

The Schmidt FIrm, LLP — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:59:42 +0000

Due to the BP oil spill, dock, pier, and boat ramp owners and their employees are looking at potentially huge reductions in business.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting oil spill claims in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by the oil spill, you should contact our firm immediately for a free case consultation. Please click here to contact our Environmental Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Dock, Pier, and Boat Ramp Loss of Business Information

The owners of docks, piers, and boat ramps in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are facing huge business losses because of the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico. Following the explosion of the BP oilrig, fishing grounds from Louisiana to Florida are already being closed. Additional closings are likely considering the oil continues to leak and no way to stop the leak has been found. The employees of these businesses are also facing an uncertain future.

In addition to fishing ground closures, vacationers are also canceling trips to the area. The uncertainty over the magnitude of the oil spill has forced vacationers to change their summer travel plans. So, even areas not yet affected are facing business losses. Depending on how much oil leaks, how far the oil slick spreads, and how long the cleanup takes, it could be years before these companies are back to business as usual.

Do I Have a Marina Loss of Business Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting oil spill claims in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by the oil spill, you should contact our firm immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Environmental Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Marina Loss of Business Lawsuit

The Schmidt FIrm, LLP — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:55:43 +0000

Marina owners are losing business, which puts their employees at risk of having their hours reduced or even losing their jobs due to the BP oil leak.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

Marina Loss of Business Information

Thousands of people work at marinas along the Gulf Coast. Many people think of marinas as just a place to dock a boat. But that simply isn’t true. Marinas provide so many different things for boat owners and vacationers. For boat owners, they provide storage, fuel and cleaning. For vacationers, they provide boat rentals, charters, fishing guides, dolphin cruises, dinner cruises, jet-ski and pontoon rentals, and more. Many marinas even have restaurants, bars, and stores.

The oil that continues to leak into the waters of the Gulf Coast has the potential to put the marinas out of business and the marina employees out of work. Vacationers are already canceling trips. Fishing grounds along the coast from Louisiana to Florida are already being closed and more closures are expected as the slick spreads. Depending on how much oil leaks, how far the oil slick spreads, and how long the cleanup takes, it could be years before the marinas recover.

Do I Have a Marina Loss of Business Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting oil spill claims in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by the oil spill, you should contact our firm immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Environmental Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Seafood Processing Industry Loss of Business Lawsuit

The Schmidt FIrm, LLP — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:52:43 +0000

With some fishing grounds already closed and the potential for long-term contamination in the Gulf of Mexico, the seafood processing industry along the entire Gulf Coast is in danger.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting oil spill related claims in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by the oil spill, you should contact our firm immediately for a free case consultation. Please click here to contact our Environmental Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Seafood Processing Industry Loss of Business Information

The BP oil leak has been a top news story since the initial explosion and a lot of attention has been paid to the fisherman who are now unemployed. However, another huge part of the fishing and seafood industry is the processing. Seafood processing is the process by which fish and other seafood gets from the boats to the grocery stores and restaurants. The processing facilities along the Gulf Coast, including those in states not directly affect by the oil spill, such as Texas, are facing huge losses in business due to the closing of fishing grounds and potential contamination. Louisiana alone produces 20 to 25 percent of the total domestic seafood in the lower 48 states and 75 percent of all seafood harvested in the northern Gulf of Mexico. All the seafood harvested has to be processed before it can be shipped across the country for consumption.

There are many different parts of seafood processing, including:

sorting
dressing
cutting
eviscerating
skinning
pre-cooking
breading
spicing
blanching
filleting
salting
packing

All of the men and women who work at fish and seafood processing plants are now in danger of losing hours, if not their jobs.

Do I Have a Seafood Processing Industry Loss of Business Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting oil spill claims in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by the oil spill, you should contact our firm immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Environmental Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.