Americans are increasingly exposed to all kinds of toxic substances that can result in both short term and long term adverse health consequences. Cole and Hodges believe that the manufacturers and purveyors of such substances should be held accountable when they violate industry standards of care or ignore the known dangers associated with their products and sell them to us with inadequate warnings or safety instructions. We also believe the manufacturers, purveyors, and handlers of toxic substances should be held accountable when they negligently expose citizens to toxins and harmful chemicals that should not come into contact with us.

Recent examples of such toxic materials became national headlines when contaminated lettuce resulted in mass food poisoning, sickness, and death in several states. You also may have read about contaminated beef products that were sold to various public school systems to be fed to American children. We also have been inundated with stories about contaminated peanut butter and toys that have been coated with lead-filled paint.

In addition to these common items that can result in great harm, you also may have heard of the dangers associated with asbestos, including the debilitating disease of asbestosis and the fatal disease of Mesothelioma. Additionally, unscrupulous property owners can rent apartments or sell homes that are infested with toxic molds that can result in devastating health problems. Hardly a day goes by when we do not hear about the latest prescription medicine that has now been proven to be dangerous rather than helpful.

Kenny Cole once represented numerous police officers who were injured by a hydrofluoric acid release from an industrial plant. The plant owner had hired numerous contractors to perform a "turn around" during which equipment in the plant was going to be inspected, repaired, and maintained. However, during the turn around procedure, the lifting of a multi-ton convection section by a large crane failed because of faulty planning and unsafe storage of the acid in a tank over which the lift was occurring. When the lift failed and the crane and its multi-ton load crashed to the ground, the storage tank was damaged and the liquefied acid vaporized and vented to the atmosphere. Prevailing winds carried the vaporous acid over the nearby town, and the local police officers were overcome and injured by breathing the acid while trying to evacuate the endangered citizens. Because of their pulmonary injuries, the officers hired Cole to represent them against the plant owner and the contractors whose conduct led to the release of this caustic and toxic vapor. Cole's involvement in this lawsuit was made part of a Home Box Office documentary entitled "Death on the Job."

On another occasion, Cole was hired to represent toll booth operators who were overcome by noxious and dangerous chemical fumes that were released from a nearby chemical plant. These clients, like the police officers in the other case, suffered pulmonary injuries. Such injuries to the tissues of the lungs can be debilitating, both on a short time basis and sometimes on a long term or permanent basis. Such injuries sometimes require specialized medical care, like ventilators and respirators, and it is helpful to have a lawyer who understands that medical care and has experience dealing with the doctors who are trying to help you recover from your injuries.

If you or your children have been injured from exposure to toxic materials such as

• contaminated food products
• toys covered in lead paint
• mold filled apartments
• mold covered homes
• toxic chemicals, acids, or vapors released from industrial settings
• harmful medications

If you or someone you know has been injured because of a toxic exposure contact Cole and Hodges online or call us at 1(888) 539-3110 to set up a free consultation.