COMPLEX TORT LITIGATION

Redressing harm and safeguarding the future.

We represent individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries and environmental harm due to unsafe products, toxic substances, or other forms of injury and abuse.

Overview

Our nationally recognized trial attorneys represent individuals who have suffered catastrophic injury or death, property damage, and environmental harm due to unsafe products, toxic substances, infrastructure failure, medical negligence, or other forms of injury and abuse. Our primary objectives are to ensure injured victims receive just restitution through the court system and to hold responsible parties accountable.

We pursue complex torts often involving national crises and issues related to industry negligence — many of our cases are closely watched by the media and regulators alike. Some have set legal precedent, while others have influenced government investigations, new legislation, or regulatory change – all to mitigate future wrongdoing and injury.

Use the CONTACT US BOX BELOW, if you believe you have a legal claim.

Our Practice

We have the unique honor and distinction of being court appointed Lead Trial Counsel or Lead/Co-lead Counsel in several of the largest complex class and environmental toxic tort mass actions in recent U.S. history, including:

  • Flint, Michigan Water Crisis Litigation: On July 26, 2017, Cohen Milstein was court-appointed as Co-Lead Counsel in this high-profile class action involving the blatant failure of Michigan state and city officials, including the Governor of Michigan, to provide 100,000 citizens and business with safe drinking water, instead providing them with poisonous, lead-tainted water, as reported in The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, and other national publications.
  • DuPont/Chemours Cape Fear River Water Contamination Litigation: On January 4, 2018, Cohen Milstein was court-appointed Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel in this significant putative toxic tort class action against DuPont and Chemours, which, since 1980, have knowingly dumped toxic chemical by-products into the Cape Fear River, affecting potentially more than 770,000 residents in North Carolina, and lied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state regulators, as reported in The Washington Post and Triangle Business Journal.

Our cases frequently involve issues of national significance and allow us to effect change not only through the courts, but through advocacy efforts before state and federal legislatures, and regulators, as demonstrated below:

  • Lindsay X-LITE Guardrails: As reported by The TODAY Show, in June 2017 we filed a series of individual wrongful death lawsuits against the Lindsay Corporation, alleging that the Lindsay X-LITE guardrail system, installed on roadways in 29 states across the United States, is defective, contributing to such deaths. Since that time, additional cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic injury have been filed against Lindsay Corporation. We have also met with federal and state transportation and highway officials and legislators to discuss Lindsay X-LITE safety concerns.

Results of our lawsuits have had far-reaching consequences:

Our Approach

We respect the courage and strength of our clients to come forward and pursue litigation. We pursue their claims aggressively, if need be, all the way to a jury trial and through appeal. Through every step of the litigation process, we keep our clients’ interests and goals central to our focus and strategy.

Complex tort claims often require intensive investigation to determine the way in which a product, substance, professional or other individual caused harm, injury, or death. Such investigation is particularly important to uncover negligent, fraudulent, or deceptive conduct taken to conceal harmful products, substances, or other abuses. During these investigations, we work closely with subject matter experts, and/or medical professionals who are focused on accident, crime scene, and forensic analysis, to present the most compelling case to the court.

Through our diligence, we have been able to uncover patterns of corporate and institutional negligence, fraud, and abuse. Through the court system, we have helped clients receive just compensation and have stopped defendants from continuing to put harmful products on the marketplace or continuing to engage in abusive, unethical behavior at the expense of the public.

Fill out THE CONTACT US FORM BELOW, if you believe you have a legal claim.

Current Cases

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Cape Fear River PFAS Litigation: Nix, et al. v. The Chemours Company FC, LLC et al.

Cape Fear River Contaminated Water Litigation (E.D.N.C.): Cohen Milstein is representing North Carolina residents and homeowners along the Cape Fear River in this certified toxic tort class action against DuPont and Chemours for allegedly dumping toxic GenX chemicals, a form of PFAS aka “forever chemicals,” into the Cape Fear River, impacting the drinking water and homes of more than 770,000 residents throughout the region.

Reed, et al. v. USA – Chimney Tops 2 Fire

Reed, et al. v U.S.A (E.D. Tenn.): Cohen Milstein represents plaintiffs in a wrongful death and property damage mass action against the United States Department of Interior and National Park Service for the negligence of its employees to perform their duties during The Chimney Tops 2 Fire in Tennessee, which originated in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and ultimately damaged or destroyed 2,500 homes, buildings and other structures, and killed more than a dozen people.

General Motors Litigation

General Motors Litigation (E.D. Mich.): Cohen Milstein, as court-appointed Lead Counsel and Plaintiff Steering Committee Chair, represents a certified class of consumers in more than 25 states who purchased or leased new and used vehicles manufactured by GM in a consolidated breach of warranty and deceptive and fraudulent business practices class action against GM. Plaintiffs bring their claims under state consumer protection statutes and express and implied warranty law of their respective states, related to GM’s manufacture and sale of defective eight-speed automatic transmissions (GM 8L90 or the 8L45), manufactured by between 2015 and 2019.

Past Cases

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Doe v. Felipe Vazquez

Doe v. Felipe Vazquez (M.D. Fla.): Cohen Milstein represented Jane Doe in a sexual abuse civil lawsuit against Felipe Vazquez, a renowned professional Major League Baseball player, who allegedly sexually assaulted Doe for years, starting as early as when she was 12 years old. On August 16, 2023, the Court awarded Doe over $11 million in this civil lawsuit against Vazquez.

Glen Mar Early Learning Center Litigation

Glen Mar Early Learning Center Litigation (Circ. Crt., Howard Cnty., Md.): Cohen Milstein represented the parents of five children, who were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation by a predator over a two-year period in 2018-2019, while attending the Glen Mar Early Learning Center in Maryland. Parties agreed to a confidential settlement on September 25, 2023, concluding the lawsuit.

Gillig v. United Healthcare

Gillig v. United Healthcare (Cir. Crt., Palm Beach Cnty., Fla.): Cohen Milstein represented Philip Gillig in this Managed Care Abuse lawsuit against United Healthcare for failing to provide Mr. Gillig with timely access to medical care and treatment, thereby failing to administer medically necessary benefits, despite Mr. Gillig’s declining condition. As a result, Mr. Gillig fell into septic shock and suffered significantly.