Georgia Environmental Torts Lawyers

Environmental Tort Lawyers in Georgia Who Fight To Protect Our State

Georgia is a special place, full of wonderful people and beautiful landscapes. It’s important to preserve our natural resources and protect our residents from harm. Environmental torts allow Georgians to seek compensation when their property is damaged, land is polluted, or businesses are harmed, and when residents are injured by the careless actions of people who prioritize monetary gain over human decency.

If you or a loved one has suffered a fatality, physical injury, or financial loss caused by people or corporations who despoil Georgia’s natural resources, you have the right to seek compensation by filing an environmental tort.

At Butler Prather LLP, we feel privileged to live in the great State of Georgia, and we are proud of the work we have done to protect our people and our land. For example, we won a notable environmental tort on behalf of Shaun and Armie Harris. Their property and business was severely damaged after the Silicon Ranch Company (SRC), a solar energy business from Tennessee, built a power station near their home and failed to keep the promises they made to protect the local environment.

SRC and its contractor, Energy Alternatives, Inc. (IEA), cleared and mass-graded about 1000 acres without first installing adequate erosion and sediment control measures, which is against the law. Our firm won Shuan and Armie a verdict of $135.5 million.

For over 35 years, the personal injury lawyers at Butler Prather LLP have been helping accident victims in Georgia and across the nation. Our skilled litigators have won settlements and verdicts for clients in over 30 states. We’ve won nine verdicts exceeding $100 million and over 60 verdicts and settlements of over $10 million.

Call us at (706) 322-1990 to schedule a complimentary consultation today.

What Is an Environmental Tort?

Environmental despoliation is a serious threat to major industries in Georgia, including agriculture. The state is a leading producer of poultry, cotton, eggs, beef, pecans, peanuts, timber, and many other farm and ranch products. Georgia also attracts millions of tourists to our natural wonders every year, including Amicalola Falls State Park, Radium Springs, Tallulah Gorge State Park, and Providence Canyon State Park.

In civil law, a tort is a wrongful act that causes someone to suffer loss or harm. An environmental tort is a claim or a lawsuit filed by a personal injury attorney after someone has been injured or their property due to damage caused by waste, pollutants, or harmful chemicals. Industries that cause the greatest amount of environmental damage include:

• Waste management
• Transportation (truck and rail)
• Power plants
• Wind farms
• Chemical plants
• Agricultural
• Solar energy
• Oil refining
• Mining
• Manufacturing

Federal Regulation and Environmental Torts

Public awareness about the importance of reducing pollution and maintaining a clean environment has grown dramatically since the 1970s. Congress created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970. The Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), enacted in 1976, is the principal federal law governing the disposal of solid and hazardous waste. The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensations and Liability Act (CERCLA) created the “superfund” to assist victims of environmental degradation and was passed in 1980.

The EPA has the authority to enforce the RCRA, which requires hazardous waste to be handled in an environmentally sound manner at every stage, including treatment, transportation, storage, and disposal.

Companies that violate federal environmental regulations are subject to criminal and civil prosecution. Additional federal environmental legislation includes:

• The Clean Water Act (CWA)
• The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• The Endangered Species Act (ESA)
• The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
• The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA)
• The Oil Pollution Act (OPA)
• The Hazardous Site Response Act (HSRA)

How Your Environmental Tort Attorney Can Help

At Butler Prather LLP, our attorneys have won landmark verdicts against large corporations across the country. We have the necessary resources to investigate and litigate your case, and we will stand by your side throughout the legal process.

Our firm will enlist the assistance of various experts to determine whose negligence caused the environmental damages. Our team of soil experts, biologists, physicians, geologists, chemical engineers, accountants, economists, and appraisers will provide the data we need to assess the full extent of the loss you have endured. Then, we will file a claim or a lawsuit to help you recover your losses.

Butler Prather LLP handles all types of environmental torts, including:

• Class action lawsuits
• Mass torts
• Multi-district litigation
• Private citizen torts
• Lawsuits involving regulatory enforcement

Damages Available in an Environmental Tort Case

There are three types of damages that may be awarded in an environmental tort lawsuit: Economic damages that cover monetary losses, such as medical treatment and property damage; non-economic damages that cover intangible losses, such as emotional pain and mental anguish; and punitive damages, which aim to discourage others from committing similar acts in the future.

The State of Georgia allows punitive damages in cases where the defendant’s actions display willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or entire want of care. In federal environmental torts, punitive damages may be awarded to deter and prevent environmental destruction and protect the public interest.

A claim or lawsuit filed by Butler Prather LLP will include the following types of damages:

• Medical expenses
• Loss of business revenue
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Reduced earning potential
• Opportunity costs
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of income
• Medical devices
• Disfigurement
• Loss of consortium
• Occupational therapy
• In-home nursing care
• Rehabilitation
• Wrongful death

We’ve Won Over a Billion Dollars for Our Clients

At Butler Prather LLP, we level the playing by fighting for people who have been harmed by the careless actions of others. We’ve taken on some of the largest interests in the nation and beat them in court. When it comes to protecting our clients, Butler Prather LLP won’t back down from anybody.

We understand that you are going through a difficult time. Our Georgia attorneys will treat you and your family with respect and compassion, and we are always available for our clients.

Call (706) 322-1990 to learn more today.