Mass Torts: Cancer Clusters in North Carolina

General Mass Torts

DeMent, Askew, Johnson & Marshall is dedicated to providing exceptional legal representation in mass tort litigation, including high-profile cases like the Camp Lejeune water toxicity litigation and the PCB contamination at Poe Hall. Our experienced attorneys are here to guide you through the complexities of mass tort cases, ensuring that you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.

What Are Mass Torts?

A mass tort is a civil action involving numerous plaintiffs against one or a few corporate defendants in state or federal court. Unlike class action lawsuits, where plaintiffs are grouped together as a single entity, mass tort cases involve individual claims that are handled collectively to improve efficiency and consistency. Each plaintiff in a mass tort maintains a separate lawsuit but benefits from shared resources and legal strategies.

Elements Constituting Mass Tort Litigation

Mass tort litigation typically involves several key elements:

  • Large Number of Claimants: There are many individuals who have been harmed by the same product, action, or event.
  • Common Issues of Fact or Law: The plaintiffs share common legal issues or factual circumstances, such as the cause of their injuries or the nature of the defendant's actions.
  • Complex Litigation: These cases often involve extensive discovery, numerous witnesses, expert testimony, and significant legal resources.
  • Consolidation for Efficiency: Mass tort cases are often consolidated in state or federal court to streamline proceedings, reduce costs, and ensure consistent rulings.

Illness Clusters

An illness cluster occurs when a higher-than-expected number of individuals in a specific geographic area develop a particular disease or condition. Identifying and proving illness clusters is a critical aspect of mass tort litigation, as it helps establish a pattern of harm linked to a common cause. Examples of illness clusters include cancer clusters, where multiple individuals in the same area develop cancer due to exposure to hazardous substances, such as PCBs in Poe Hall or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

Camp Lejeune Water Toxicity Litigation

The Camp Lejeune water toxicity litigation involves claims by individuals who were exposed to contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, resulting in serious health issues. This litigation is being handled exclusively in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, in Raleigh. The contamination at Camp Lejeune has led to numerous health problems, including various cancers, neurological issues, and reproductive disorders.

Our firm offers local counsel services to attorneys and their clients from other states involved in the Camp Lejeune litigation. Our extensive experience and deep understanding of the local legal landscape make us invaluable partners in navigating these complex cases.

Poe Hall PCB Contamination

Poe Hall at North Carolina State University has been identified as a site of PCB contamination, leading to a cancer cluster among students and staff. PCBs are highly carcinogenic chemicals that were banned in 1979, yet their presence in buildings constructed before the ban continues to pose significant health risks. Our firm is actively involved in representing individuals affected by PCB exposure in Poe Hall, seeking justice and compensation for their suffering.

Local Counsel Services

DeMent, Askew, Johnson & Marshall is proud to serve as local counsel for mass tort matters litigated in North Carolina. Our expertise in both state and federal courts, combined with our commitment to client advocacy, positions us as a leading choice for handling complex mass tort cases. Whether you are dealing with the aftermath of toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune or PCB contamination in Poe Hall, our attorneys are here to provide the legal support you need.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been affected by a mass tort, contact DeMent, Askew, Johnson & Marshall for a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation. Our experienced team is ready to help you navigate the complexities of mass tort litigation and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 866-576-0576  or reach out online to schedule your free consultation.

We are now DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall

We are now DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall

RALEIGH | MOREHEAD CITY

919-833-5555

Contact Us

Mass Torts: Cancer Clusters in North Carolina | DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall, Raleigh Litigators

MASS TORTS PRACTICE

PROVEN TRIAL SUCCESS

Man Moving from Georgia to West Virginia to be Closer to Family Hit by 18-Wheeler in North Carolina Receives $140,000.00 Settlement After Extensive Litigation

Mr. Johnson’s client was driving a Dodge pick-up truck northeasterly on the on-ramp for traffic exiting off of I-485 and onto I-77 north in Charlotte. He was in the process of moving from Georgia to West Virginia and was pulling a U-Haul trailer. He had a full load in the bed of his truck. One…

More on this ...

Stroke Victim Resident of a Nursing Home that Was Raped by Co-Resident Receives Large Confidential Settlement

DeMent Askew’s client had suffered a stroke years ago. She could not speak as a result of the stroke, and she was also confined to a wheelchair. However, she was still very sharp mentally. She was residing in a nursing home because of her physical limitations. One day, a new resident appeared in the nursing…

More on this ...

North Carolina Crime Lab Firearms Examiner Wins 9 Million Dollar Verdict in 3 ½ Week Long Libel Jury Trial Against the News and Observer

9 Million Dollar Verdict is Top Verdict in North Carolina for 2016 as Reported by Lawyers Weekly! Attorney: James Johnson, Dement Askew Date of Verdict: October 2016 In 2006, North Carolina expert firearms examiner Beth Desmond was asked to examine some bullet fragments and shell casings from a homicide crime scene. The incident occurred in…

More on this ...

Nurse at Local Hospital Involved in Automobile Collision Receives $300,000.00 Settlement After Extensive Litigation

Mr. Johnson’s client was driving north on Capital Blvd., approaching the intersection with Wake Union Church Road. The Defendant was driving south on Capital Blvd in a large SUV owned by a local landscaping company. As our client approached the intersection, the traffic light for her direction of traffic was emitting a steady green light.…

More on this ...

Estate of Elderly Mother of Three That Suffered Through Negligent Care at a Nursing Home Resulting in Death Receives Large Confidential Settlement

The deceased was a resident of a North Carolina nursing home. She had recently been sent to a local hospital for an unrelated illness and was recovering well from this prior illness. During this recovery period, she developed an ulcerous wound in and around her sacrum. The nursing home staff failed to timely detect the…

More on this ...

Part-Time Student and Restaurant Worker Attacked by Two Pit Bulls While Mowing Grass Receives $101,000.00 Settlement After Extensive Litigation Including Separate Lawsuit Regarding Insurance Coverage

On a summer afternoon, Mr. Johnson’s client was mowing the lawn at the residence of a friend house in Raleigh. The property line running along the back of where he was mowing the lawn runs alongside and is adjacent to the back of the yard of a house which was being kept two Pit Bull…

More on this ...

Single Mother on Her Way to Work Hit by Pick-Up Truck Running a Red Light Receives $122,500.00 Settlement Just Before Trial

DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall’s client was driving south on Lake Wheeler Road in Raleigh on her way to work. She was approaching the intersection with Centennial Parkway and was intending to travel straight through the intersection. At the same time, the Defendant was driving a large pick-up truck traveling in a northerly direction on…

More on this ...

NC COURT OF APPEALS AFFIRMS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR JURY VERDICT AGAINST THE RALEIGH N&O

In a unanimous opinion filed on December 18, 2018, a three-judge Court of Appeals panel affirmed the $6.12 Million Dollar jury verdict Mr. Johnson and associate Chynna Smith won on behalf of their client, a former state firearms examiner, Beth Desmond, in her libel case against the Raleigh News & Observer and reporter Mandy Locke.…

More on this ...

Long-time Sales Associate at Plumbing and HVAC Supply Company Receives Confidential Settlement as a Result of Medical Malpractice

DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall’s client was in his yard filling a birdfeeder with birdseed when he fell and twisted his left leg in an awkward position. He immediately heard a crack and saw that his left ankle was turned in an awkward position. His wife called 911. EMS arrived and transported him to a…

More on this ...