Litigation
Our litigation support staff have outstanding academic, professional, and scientific credentials to provide attorneys with sound technical and scientific foundations for case preparation. We go beyond simply repeating the facts—we deliver context and insight to the questions at hand and present our findings in a clear and understandable way.
TOXIC TORTS
Our team has experience in multifaceted, high-stakes toxic tort litigation for a wide range of legacy and emerging contaminants. From source and transport to exposure and effects, we utilize our skills and experience to build scientifically based expert opinions. We combine our technical acumen with an exceptional ability to convey highly technical, scientific opinions in a narrative that is understandable by judge and jury.
Risk Assessment | Toxicology | Forensics | Fate and Transport | PCBs | Dioxin | PFAS | Emerging Contaminants | Pesticides | Mercury
Forensics
Identifying contaminant sources and the timing of their release is an important factor in understanding chemical fate and transport, assessing remedial actions, and resolving complex questions concerning contribution, source attribution, and cost allocation. Our forensic specialists excel at deconstructing the evidence and building fact-based cases to address these important issues. With our subject matter expertise and innate multidisciplinary perspective, we provide fresh insights that are robust, credible, and compelling.
Fingerprinting | Fate and Transport | Principal Component Analysis | Unmixing
allocation
Issues of divisibility, contribution, cost recovery, and allocation frequently arise when addressing response costs at multiparty environmental sites. We employ scientifically defensible technical analyses to support divisibility, and develop equitable allocation or apportionment plans. By analyzing the facts related to source, release, and fate along with information on operational history and/or use, we build robust allocation approaches.
Apportionment | Allocation | Cost Model
engineering & construction
We apply our extensive experience in engineering design and construction to prepare technical opinions for environmental engineering and construction projects. By evaluating the circumstances surrounding complicated engineering design and construction matters—including delays and scheduling, defects, and the intricacies of contracting—we provide clear, convincing, and objective technical opinions.
Construction Claims | Insurance Claims | Remediation Implementation
natural Resource damage claims
Our clients turn to us for support with natural resource damage claims. We have substantial experience preparing defensible strategies for all phases of the natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) process—from developing a technically sound basis for evaluating injury, causation, and baseline, to quantifying losses and assisting with cooperative assessments. Our NRDA services are fully integrated with our forensic practice so we can assist in allocation matters as they arise.
NRDA | Cooperative Assessment
product defense
We help our clients navigate the complex world of product defense. From responding to legal claims to addressing regulatory compliance issues related to product safety, we conduct analyses that cover issues of exposure, toxicity, risk, chemistry, and compliance. We provide consulting and testimony support for matters related to current product lines as well as historically distributed products and chemicals.
Risk Assessment | Toxicology | Exposure Assessment | Compliance | Proposition 65 | PFAS
FEATURED STAFF MEMBER
William Locke, P.E.
President
Mr. William Locke is a hydrologist and registered civil engineer. He has more than 25 years of experience in investigation of complex environmental systems, fate and transport assessments, remedy analysis and selection, and regulatory affairs. Mr. Locke advises a broad range of clients on scientific and engineering issues, regulatory strategy, and management of environmental assets and liabilities.
related case studies
recent news and articles
EPA Issues Draft Guidance on Regulation of Groundwater Discharges under Clean Water Act
On December 8, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued draft guidance to clarify the U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding regulation of indirect groundwater discharges to surface water under the Clean Water Act (CWA). This draft guidance intends...
Supreme Court Finds Groundwater Discharges Can Be Regulated under Clean Water Act
On April 23, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court opined that the reach of the Clean Water Act (CWA) includes regulation of indirect groundwater discharges to surface water. This ruling will pose regulatory and technical challenges for current and planned discharges to...
Climate Change and NRD: Jennifer Sampson to Serve on Panel
On July 19, Jennifer Sampson will join a panel discussion at the 12th Annual Santa Fe Advanced Conference on Litigating Natural Resource Damages titled “Climate Change, Rising Sea Levels, Warming Water Temperatures, and Prolonged Periods of Extreme Weather.” Featuring...
