Practice Area
Environmental Litigation
Singleton Schreiber's environmental lawyers have over 75 years of collective experience helping public entities and individual clients affected by devastating, human-caused environmental disasters. Our team has litigated some of the country's largest lawsuits related to utility-caused wildfires, mudslides, and the contamination of water, air, and soil — representing everyone from individual homeowners to entire municipalities.
We have in-depth knowledge of environmental investigations and complex litigation, including mass tort and Multi-District Litigation matters and contamination cases involving CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and numerous state regulations. Our team currently represents thousands of individuals and entities in environmental mass tort matters, including pending PFAS litigation and Camp Lejeune toxic water claims.
Types of Environmental Cases
When Companies Put the Public at Risk
PFAS / Forever Chemicals
PFAS — including PFOA and PFOS — are man-made chemicals found in everything from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam. They do not break down in the environment or the body and have been linked to increased cancer risk and other serious health conditions.
Camp Lejeune Toxic Water
From the 1950s through the 1980s, the water supply at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina was contaminated with TCE, PCE, benzene, and vinyl chloride. Service members, families, and civilian workers exposed may be eligible for compensation under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
Toxic Exposure & Contamination
Our attorneys have litigated cases involving exposure to lead, cadmium, arsenic, asbestos, gasoline, benzene, isocyanates, solvents, and uranium — covering both individual claims and class actions.
Pipeline & Refinery Litigation
Our team has obtained record-setting results against pipeline operators and refineries, including the $1.6 billion PG&E fine following the San Bruno gas pipeline explosion.
Utility-Caused Wildfires & Mudslides
Negligent vegetation management and equipment failure by utility companies have caused some of the most destructive wildfires and mudslides in the country. We hold these companies accountable for the full scope of resulting damage.
Medical Monitoring
When exposure to toxic substances creates increased health risks even without a current diagnosis, medical monitoring claims can secure ongoing health screening and monitoring for affected individuals.
Our Team
Decades of Environmental Trial Experience
A national practice specializing in environmental and toxic torts, with record-setting jury awards and precedent-setting remediation results. Mr. Hannon has prevailed in two landmark environmental cases before the Colorado Supreme Court and is nationally recognized for his work on medical-monitoring class actions. He is currently co-counsel in climate alteration litigation against Suncor and ExxonMobil.
Brings decades of experience in environmental compliance and litigation, including over 18 years as an Assistant United States Attorney — giving the firm deep insight into how environmental enforcement actions are built and litigated.
Served as lead counsel for the City of San Bruno against PG&E following the natural gas pipeline explosion that killed 8 people and destroyed over 40 homes — resulting in a record-setting $1.6 billion fine, a $70 million community settlement, and felony indictments of PG&E.
Extensive litigation and trial experience with the transportation, oil refinery, and utility industries, including a $55 million jury verdict arising from the construction of a combined-cycle power plant in Sacramento County.
Landmark Result
The San Bruno Pipeline Explosion Held PG&E Accountable
When a PG&E natural gas pipeline exploded in San Bruno in 2010, killing 8 people and destroying more than 40 homes, our team — led by partner Britt Strottman as lead counsel for the City of San Bruno — pursued accountability that went far beyond a typical settlement. The result was a record-setting $1.6 billion fine against PG&E, a $70 million settlement to establish a nonprofit for the San Bruno community, felony criminal indictments of PG&E, and multiple state and federal investigations into PG&E and its regulator. This is what fearless advocacy looks like when the stakes are highest.
Active Litigation
Mass Tort & MDL Matters
PFAS Litigation
Our team represents individuals and public entities in pending PFAS ("forever chemicals") litigation related to contamination of drinking water and exposure to firefighting foam and other PFAS-containing products.
Camp Lejeune Claims
Representing service members, families, and civilian workers exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between the 1950s and 1980s, pursuing claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
Climate Alteration
Co-counsel in litigation against Suncor and ExxonMobil seeking property and public health damages resulting from climate alteration caused by fossil fuel activities — cases that have survived two U.S. Supreme Court challenges.
Legal Framework
Environmental Laws We Litigate Under
Environmental contamination cases often involve overlapping federal and state regulatory frameworks. Our attorneys have deep experience navigating CERCLA (the federal Superfund law), RCRA (the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act), the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the many state-level regulations that govern environmental liability — building cases that hold polluters accountable under every available legal theory.
Common Questions
Environmental Litigation FAQ
Singleton Schreiber handles environmental cases involving utility-caused wildfires, mudslides, water/air/soil contamination, PFAS (forever chemicals), toxic exposure to substances like lead, asbestos, benzene, and uranium, and large-scale mass tort and multidistrict litigation matters including Camp Lejeune toxic water claims.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), including PFOA and PFOS, are man-made chemicals used in products from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam. They are called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment or the human body, and have been linked to increased cancer risk and other serious health issues.
From the 1950s through the 1980s, the water supply at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina was contaminated with toxic chemicals including TCE, PCE, benzene, and vinyl chloride. Service members, their families, and civilian workers exposed to the water may be eligible to file claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act for resulting illnesses including cancer and other serious conditions.
Following the 2010 San Bruno natural gas pipeline explosion that killed 8 people and destroyed over 40 homes, Singleton Schreiber partner Britt Strottman served as lead counsel for the City of San Bruno. Her advocacy led to a record-setting $1.6 billion fine against PG&E, a $70 million settlement establishing a community nonprofit, felony criminal indictments of PG&E, and multiple state and federal investigations.
Environmental contamination cases may involve CERCLA (the federal Superfund law), RCRA (the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act), the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and various state environmental regulations. Our attorneys have deep experience navigating these overlapping federal and state frameworks.
Free Case Evaluation
75 Years of Experience. One Mission.
If you or your community has been harmed by environmental contamination, contact our team for a free, confidential case evaluation.
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