- Home
- About
- Practice Areas
- Business and Corporate Law
- Business Formation and Structuring
- Asset and Stock Purchases and Sales
- Trademark and Copyright
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Business Valuations and Buyouts
- Business Financing and SBA Loans
- General Counsel Services
- Founders Agreements
- Shareholder Agreements
- Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation, and Non-Disclosure Contracts
- Joint Venture Agreements
- Licensing
- Asset Protection
- Franchise Agreements
- Business Dissolution and Restructuring
- Business and Commercial Litigation
- Real Estate
- Real Estate Fraud & NVAR Residential Sales Contracts
- Construction Disputes & Mechanics Liens
- New Home Construction and Builder Contract Disputes
- Asset Protection
- Easements
- Boundary Line Disputes
- Quiet Title Actions
- Adverse Possession Claims
- Injunctions, Nuisance, and Trespass Claims
- Title Litigation
- Real Estate Deeds
- New Deed Request
- Commercial Property Acquisitions, Sales, and Development
- Commercial Leasing Disputes
- Landlord-Tenant Disputes
- Real Estate Brokers & Agents
- Condominiums, HOA & Cooperatives Law
- Partition/Allotment Actions
- Mold, Asbestos, and Toxic Torts Defense
- Hard Money Loan Agreements
- Real Estate Investors
- Property Managers
- Wholesaling Agreements
- Estate Planning
- Estate and Trust Litigation
- Business and Corporate Law
- Media
- Blog
- Contact Us
703-652-5506
Attorney ProfileWashington, D.C. Real Estate Attorneys for Toxic Tort Defense
Real Estate Lawyers for Claims Related to Mold or Asbestos in Washington, D.C.
When hazardous substances like mold, asbestos, lead, or toxic chemicals are discovered on a property, these issues may be addressed through legal proceedings known as toxic torts. These issues can lead to serious legal and financial concerns for property owners, landlords, developers, contractors, or other parties. These cases may address dangerous conditions that are discovered in residential or commercial properties, sometimes years after a sale, renovation project, or lease agreement. Toxic torts may involve allegations of property damage, personal injuries, failure to disclose hazardous conditions, or negligent maintenance.
At Fox & Moghul, our toxic tort defense attorneys can help clients respond to these claims while protecting their legal and financial interests. Whether a case involves mold contamination in an apartment complex, asbestos discovered during a commercial renovation, or allegations that people living in a residential property were exposed to harmful chemicals, we can help respond to these allegations, determine whether a client may be held liable, and work to resolve these matters successfully.
What Are Toxic Torts?
A toxic tort is a legal claim involving allegations of harm due to exposure to hazardous or toxic substances. These claims may involve environmental contamination, unsafe building materials, airborne pollutants, water intrusion, or other dangerous conditions affecting the occupants of a property.
Toxic tort litigation may address properties such as residential homes, apartment complexes, office buildings, industrial facilities, commercial properties, or mixed-use developments. Because toxic tort claims often involve complex scientific, medical, environmental, and legal issues, legal representation can be crucial to ensure that a person or company will be able to defend against claims that they put someone else's health and safety at risk.
Mold-Related Toxic Tort Claims
Mold growth may develop on a property because of water intrusion, plumbing leaks, roof damage, flooding, poor ventilation, or construction defects. Property owners, landlords, or contractors may face claims alleging that mold exposure caused health problems or property damage to a person who purchased a home or tenants in a residential or commercial property.
Mold-related litigation may involve allegations that a property owner failed to repair water leaks or disclose water damage or that the proper steps were not taken to remediate mold. Plaintiffs may seek compensation for medical expenses, remediation costs, relocation expenses, or other damages related to mold exposure.
Asbestos Exposure Claims
Asbestos is a hazardous material that was used in the past in insulation, flooring, ceilings, roofing products, and construction materials. During renovations, demolition, or construction projects, asbestos may be released and put people at risk.
Asbestos-related claims may address hazardous materials that were not disclosed when a property was sold, the improper removal of materials containing asbestos, or other issues that led to asbestos exposure. Litigation may address asbestos-related injuries, property damage, or financial losses due to repairs or remediation.
Other Hazardous Substance Claims
In addition to mold and asbestos, toxic tort claims may involve a variety of other hazardous substances or environmental conditions, including:
- Lead paint exposure
- Contaminated drinking water
- Chemical spills
- Pesticide exposure
- Air quality contamination
- Industrial pollutants
- Soil contamination
- Carbon monoxide exposure
- Improper hazardous waste disposal
Why Litigation May Arise After a Property Purchase
A buyer may discover hazardous conditions on a property, and they may believe that these conditions existed before the transaction took place. Buyers may claim that sellers, developers, inspectors, contractors, or real estate professionals failed to disclose known issues that could put their health at risk. When addressing these disputes, our lawyers can review inspection reports, disclosures, renovation and maintenance records, environmental tests, and other information to help our clients defend against toxic torts.
Toxic Tort Claims Involving Tenants
Landlords and property managers may face toxic tort litigation when tenants claim that they have been exposed to harmful substances in rental properties. Landlords are generally required to maintain habitability on a property and perform maintenance when required.
Tenants may claim that landlords did not address unsafe conditions or prevent exposure to toxic substances. They may seek damages for medical expenses, relocation costs, lost wages, emotional distress, or property damage. Our attorneys can help landlords understand how to respond to these claims and demonstrate that they have met their legal requirements.
Defending Against Toxic Tort Claims
Our lawyers can perform detailed investigations to determine the best options for defending against allegations that a person or company failed to prevent exposure to toxic substances. We can look at whether our client owned the property in question, was responsible for maintenance, knew about hazardous conditions, disclosed issues correctly, or took reasonable steps to address problems. Toxic tort claims may involve multiple parties, and we can determine whether liability may be shared by property owners, contractors, insurers, developers, maintenance providers, or other parties.
Contact Our Washington, D.C. Toxic Torts Defense Lawyers
Toxic tort claims involving mold, asbestos, lead, or other hazardous substances can lead to serious legal and financial challenges for property owners, landlords, or other parties. At Fox & Moghul, our lawyers can help clients address allegations that a person or company failed to take the correct steps to address toxic substances. We can provide representation during litigation while protecting our clients' rights and interests. Contact our Washington, D.C. mold and asbestos litigation attorneys at 703-652-5506 to set up a consultation.
