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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Flint Water Crisis Litigation

Flint Water Crisis Class Action Litigation (E.D. Mich.): Since 2021, Cohen Milstein has helped more than 90,000 Flint residents and businesses achieve $659.25 million in settlements from those responsible for the Flint Water Crisis. This includes a landmark $626.25 million settlement against the State of Michigan, the former Governor Rick Snyder, and other defendants for their roles in re-directing toxic levels of lead-contaminated water from the Flint River into the City of Flint’s drinking water system to save money. Litigation against the EPA continues.

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.

Edwards, et al. v. CSX Transportation, et al.

Edwards, et al. v. CSX Transportation, et al. (E.D.N.C.): Cohen Milstein was appointed Interim Co-Lead Counsel in this putative class action against CSX Corporation. We represent a class of businesses and residents in the southern and western portions of Lumberton, NC who have twice suffered catastrophic flooding and damage in connection with a train underpass floodgate.

Past Cases

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Iran Beirut Bombing Litigation

Iran Beirut Bombing Litigation (D.D.C.) Cohen Milstein is litigating three Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act lawsuits against the Islamic Republic of Iran for its alleged involvement in the 1983 Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing, which killed 241 American servicemembers. This bombing was the deadliest state-sponsored terrorist attack against United States citizens before September 11, 2001. The court has awarded plaintiffs more than $1.5 billion in default judgments.

Mincey v. Takata

Mincey v. Takata (Cir. Crt., Duval Cnty., Fla.): Cohen Milstein was lead counsel in one of the first lawsuits brought against Takata for a defectively designed airbag which deployed so aggressively during a collision that it rendered our client a quadriplegic. The suit charged that Takata, the manufacturer of the airbag system, not only knew of the airbag defect but hid the defect from millions of consumers. After years of intensive discovery and in-depth work with renowned experts, on the eve of trial Cohen Milstein successfully reached a confidential settlement on behalf of our client. Further, our discovery efforts furthered the U.S. Department of Justice investigation into Takata Corporation and subsequent recall efforts of Takata airbags – one of the largest recalls in U.S. history.

Caterpillar, Inc. Engine Products Liability Litigation

Caterpillar Product Liability Litigation (D.N.J.): Cohen Milstein was co-lead counsel in a nationwide product liability class action lawsuit alleging Caterpillar sold diesel engines with defective exhaust emissions system that resulted in power losses and shutdowns. The case was settled in September 2016 for $60 million.