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Practice Areas
Toxic and Mass Torts

From the firm’s inception, representing clients nationwide in claims of exposure to toxins has been one of Governo Law Firm LLC’s core practice areas. The firm has litigated cases involving many different toxins, but has developed specialties in asbestos, mold and lead poisoning claims.

Asbestos:
Contemporary asbestos litigation bears little resemblance to asbestos litigation in the past. In the past 20 years, asbestos claims have forced more than 100 companies who manufactured products containing asbestos, such as insulation and cement, into bankruptcy. The absence of these manufacturers has eliminated many of the responsible parties and has given rise to new claims against companies that only had incidental involvement with asbestos. Attorneys in Governo Law Firm’s asbestos practice area have represented clients successfully throughout this change, and understand how to defend claims within the unique legislative and legal environment that frames the asbestos litigation.

We currently represent over 50 companies in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine, and we also serve as National Coordinating Counsel for a number of clients.

Asbestos litigation has bankrupted scores of otherwise viable companies. This trend continues and investors need sound business advice. As members of the Asbestos Liability Risk Assessment (ALRA) Group, we analyze asbestos risks for business, insurance and financial clients and predict their future asbestos liability. The ALRA Group has a proven track record in counseling companies about asbestos liability risk management strategies. 

Mold:
Mold claims for property damage and personal injuries present challenges for claimants, defendants, insurers, experts and attorneys. The Mold practice area at Governo Law Firm has tremendous depth of scientific and medical knowledge, as well as extensive, real-world, legal experience. We are involved in setting the standards for mold assessment and remediation. We represent clients in mold claims across the country.

Lead Poisoning:
Lead poisoning has been a concern for centuries, however it was not until the 1970’s that the use of lead in paint was regulated. This regulation led to an explosion in personal injury claims against owners and landlords whose properties contain lead paint. Massachusetts enacted the first Lead Law and our attorneys have decades of experience defending these highly technical and risky claims. For example, in 1991, David Governo organized and chaired the first Mealey’s National Lead Litigation Conference. The attorneys in our Lead Poisoning practice area have an outstanding foundation of scientific, technical, medical and legal knowledge, which collectively lets us understand the issues peculiar to lead poisoning cases. Moreover, we can mobilize the best experts in the country to bring our clients the best results.

Other Toxic Torts:
In addition to asbestos, mold and lead poisoning, our attorneys have represented clients in many other types of toxic tort cases. For example, we have been involved in latex allergy cases as well as personal injury claims for a variety of substances (ranging from dust to toluene) and injuries (ranging from “multiple chemical sensitivity” to cancer).





Related News
Protect Your Client's Right to Tell the Whole Story - 4/22/2013
Connecticut Superior Court Embraces Narrow Application of Bare Metal Defense in Two Summary Judgment Decisions - 4/1/2013
EPA Exercises Its Authority in Setting Potential Fines against New Hampshire Window Company - 3/29/2013
Governo Law Firm Attorney Quoted on Trademark Licensor Product Liability - 2/4/2013
Connecticut Court Grants Rare Summary Judgment to General Contractor on Asbestos Product Liability Claims - 12/4/2012
New Asbestos Claims Report Released - 11/12/2012
Federal Judge Quashes Defendant Corporate Depositions in Asbestos Cases Absent Product Identification - 11/5/2012
Governo Law Firm Attorneys' Guest Blog on Toxic Tort Litigation Blog - 11/2/2012
Reminder: National Lead Litigation Conference Features Governo Law Firm Partner on Potential Sources of Lead Poisoning - 10/12/2012
Multidistrict Litigation Asbestos Judge Holds Navy Ship Not a "Product" Under Strict Liability Law - 10/11/2012
Diesel Exhaust – A Known Human Carcinogen and Potential Source of New Legal Claims - 10/5/2012
The Emerging Product Liability of Trademark Licensors - 10/3/2012
Nano-fibers used in cosmetics and sports equipment could be as dangerous as asbestos - 9/18/2012
$2.4 Million Connecticut Asbestos Verdict Highlights Emerging Liability of Trademark Licensors for Defective Products - 9/10/2012
Governo Client Dismissed in Childhood Lead Poisoning Suit - 9/7/2012
Washington Supreme Court Expands Liability for Respirator Manufacturers in Asbestos Case - 8/29/2012
1,700 Multidistrict Litigation Asbestos Cases Dismissed for Lack of Injury - 8/27/2012
Discoverability of Asbestos Bankruptcy Claim Documents - 8/24/2012
Replacement Components Defense in Massachusetts Asbestos Litigation - 8/23/2012
Bisphenol A Study Warns Consumers Of Unconfirmed Risks – Why You Should Be Wary Of All The Hype - 8/20/2012
National Lead Litigation Conference Features Governo Law Firm Partner on Potential Sources of Lead Poisoning - 8/14/2012
Congressional Budget Office Report: the FACT Act of 2012 is Fiscally Responsible - 8/8/2012
Nanotechnology: New Products Present Potential Liability - 7/30/2012
Maine Publishes New Chemicals Of High Concern List: Are These Chemicals In Your Closet? - 7/23/2012
Parent Company May Be Sued for Asbestos-Containing Products of Bankrupt Subsidiary - 7/9/2012
Massachusetts Appeals Court to Address Replacement Components Defense in Whiting v. CBS Corporation Asbestos Case - 7/2/2012
Asbestos Trust Transparency Legislation Moves Forward - 6/27/2012
New CDC Lead Poisoning Guidance has Broad Implications for Public Health and Litigation - 6/26/2012
Reminder: Trying an Asbestos Case - How to Get the "W" - 6/11/2012
Toxic Mold Case Dismissal Overturned by New York Appeals Court - 6/5/2012
Formaldehyde and Fertility - 5/24/2012
Trying an Asbestos Case - How to Get the "W" - 4/11/2012
Study Identifies Parking Lot Sealer as Cancer Risk - 1/20/2010
David Governo Selected as New England Super Lawyer for 2009 - 10/27/2009
Attorney General of Massachusetts Sues Landlords for Housing Discrimination - 11/14/2008
David Governo Selected as New England Super Lawyer for 2008 - 10/28/2008
Jeniffer A.P. Carson and John P. Gardella Named New England Rising Stars for 2008 - 10/27/2008
National Forum for Environmental and Toxic Tort Issues Conference - 9/23/2008
GLF Publishes Revision to Text of Toxic Mold Litigation - 6/24/2008
BPA Announcement - 6/24/2008
Nanotechnology risks may include asbestos-like disease - 6/2/2008
Governo Quoted in Article on Builder Liability for Mold Litigation - 5/19/2008
EPA adds to the bureaucracy and cost of home repair: New Lead Renovation and Repair Rule - 4/4/2008
ASTM International 2008 Johnson Conference: Critical issues in Monitoring Asbestos, July 14-18, 2008 - 11/30/2007
News Bulletin: Home Lead Test Kits Found Unreliable - 10/22/2007
Product Recalls and Obama's Lead Free Toys Act of 2007 (S. 1306). - 8/10/2007
New Hampshire passes proposal to reduce blood lead limit. - 7/16/2007
Milwaukee Jury Rules in Favor of NL Industries. - 7/9/2007
AHRAE Publish 2007 Residential IAQ Standard - 6/29/2007
NJ & MI Supreme Courts Dismiss Lead-Paint Suits. - 6/19/2007
EPA Endorses Senator Obama's Proposal to Eliminate Lead from Child-Occupied Facilities - 6/11/2007
Lead Paint Lawsuits as Sherwin Holds Investors Conference. - 6/4/2007
Lead Exposure, IQ, and Behavior in Urban 5 to 7 Year Olds: Does Lead Affect Behavior Only by Lowering IQ? - 4/23/2007
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Radio - David M. Governo tells builders and architects how to avoid construction defect claims. - 4/9/2007
Novel Legal Theory of 'Public Nuisance' A Case of Over-Reaching - 4/6/2007
Former Lead Paint Manufacturers Appeal R.I. State Ruling. - 3/30/2007
David M. Governo quoted in Lawyers Weekly USA. - 3/20/2007
Mealey’s Lead Litigation Conference April 2007 - 3/6/2007
No New Trial in Lead-Paint Suit, Judge Rules. - 2/27/2007
Industry Views: David M. Governo Comments on the Best & Worst of IAQ in 2006 for Indoor Environment Connections. - 1/25/2007
Spectroscopy Technology Used To Identify NL Industries As Manufacturer Of Lead Pigment Contained In Lead Paint In Plaintiffs’ Apartment - 1/24/2007
Court Action to Determine If Ohio State Bill Limiting Lead-Paint Manufacturers' Liability Has Been Vetoed - 1/11/2007
Georgia High Court Strikes Down Asbestos Tort-Reform Law - 1/3/2007
SJC finds Cambridge courthouse employees have standing to bring civil suit against Chief Justice in asbestos related matter. - 12/28/2006
Lead Paint Removal Made Safer - 12/20/2006
Georgia Supreme Court Overturns Retroactive Application Of Georgia Asbestos Bill - 12/5/2006
3rd Circuit Revives a Proposed Class Action Suit Against Lawyers for failure to disclose fee arrangements. - 11/8/2006
ASHRAE – Receives EPA Grant to provide Advanced IAQ Guidance - 11/2/2006
FDA Broadens Access to Lead Care II Blood Lead Test System - Waiver Allows Community-Based Testing. - 10/20/2006
Proposed Legislation to get Lead Out of Child Care Facilities - 10/13/2006
Home Inspections and Questions to Ask your Home Inspector. - 9/27/2006
The Worst Cases of Tax Fraud in US History -- Who Built Your House? - 9/12/2006
USGS Report Identifies Asbestos Localities in Central U.S. - 9/7/2006
EPA Issues Draft Guidance to Reduce Auto Mechanic Exposure to Asbestos - 8/30/2006
Lead Paint – Federal Jury Defense Verdict - 8/21/2006
The First System for Monitoring Lead Poisoning in Living Cells - 8/15/2006
The Influence of Exterior Dust and Soil Lead on Interior Dust Lead Levels in Housing that Had Undergone Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control. - 8/7/2006
Ensuring Indoor Air Quality - 7/28/2006
American Risk Management Resources List Top 10 States' Relative Hazard Mold Rankings - Western States Face Mold Danger Despite Dry Climate - 7/20/2006
Asbestos By The Yard - 7/18/2006
Record rainfall favors mold, health officials warn. - 7/10/2006
Palm and fern families work to purify home and office of toxins and specific chemicals. - 7/6/2006
Governo instrumental in Cleaning and Restoration's Apex Award of Excellence. - 7/6/2006
DuPont Co. named in R.I. ethics complaint - 7/3/2006
Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Lead Paint Law - 6/28/2006
6/9/06: CDC Issues Report on Mold Prevention and Health Effects after Hurricanes - 6/27/2006
Airborne Mold Spores Increase Kids' Risk For Multiple Allergies - 6/21/2006
Companies Seek Dismissal of Thousands of Asbestos Cases - 6/14/2006
ASTM Releases New Baseline Mold Survey Standard for Commercial Buildings - 5/18/2006
Preventing Mold-Related Problems in the Indoor Workplace – A Guide for Buildings Owners, Managers and Occupants - 5/18/2006
CDC Issues Report on Hurricane-Related Mold Exposure - 5/10/2006
Mold and Water Intrusion: Successfully Litigating Mold Claims - 5/5/2006
Associate Jeniffer Carson named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer for 2006 - 5/1/2006
David Governo Honored at ASCR International's Annual Convention and Exhibition - 3/20/2006
EPA Proposes a New Rule for Lead-Based Paint Work - 3/16/2006
CDC's Mold Group Publishes Mold Prevention Strategies and Possible Health Effects in the Aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita - 3/13/2006
Insurers Want Policies of Lead Paint Companies Dropped or Limited - 3/10/2006
Contrasting Judgments in Massachusetts Lead Poisoning Cases - 2/7/2006
HUD Reports to Congress on Mold - 2/7/2006
Mold Sniffing Dogs - 1/25/2006
Preventing and Litigating IAQ and Toxic Mold Claims: Expert Strategies for Counseling & Defending Your Client - 1/13/2006
New York Appeals Court Affirms Jury Verdict Linking Asbestos From Welding Rods to Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma - 1/11/2006
Cout Approves Class Action Settlement for Waikiki Hotel Mold - 12/24/2005
West Virginia University to Pay for Asbestos Tests - 12/22/2005
Landlords Challenge Rhode Island's New Lead Paint Law - 12/9/2005
Tenants win $950,000 Lead Paint Award - 11/30/2005
California - High School Lawsuit Settled for $11 Million - 11/18/2005
Largest Settlement in a Toxic Mold Case to Date: Property Damage, Brain Injury Claims Settle for $23 Million - 11/2/2005
Liability and Lead Paint Litigation Seminar - 10/27/2005
National Institute of Building Sciences’ Whole Building Design Guide - 10/12/2005
Upcoming ASCR Schools - 10/12/2005
Michigan Court of Appeals Allows Expert Testimony Regarding Mold Allergy - 9/22/2005
Advances in Environmental Mold Issues - 9/1/2005
Indoor Air Pollution in California - 8/23/2005
Lead Advocacy Groups and Researchers to Sue EPA - 8/12/2005
Best and Worst of IAQ in 2004 - 3/1/2005

Related Articles
Recent Developments in Corporate Successor Rights - 3/27/2009
Stephen C. Mackie et al. v. State of Rhode Island et al. - 2/20/2008
Soil Vapor Intrusion and IAQ - 1/18/2008
Best and Worst of IAQ in 2007: Green Building Practices, Asbestos, Mold, and More - 12/1/2007
Asbestos Liability in the Cleaning and Restoration Industry - 4/19/2007
Avoiding Legal Liability in the Disaster Remediation. - 4/6/2007
Air Cleaner Cases Speak to Truth in Advertising - 3/16/2007
Genuine Mold - 7/6/2006
A Look at Environmental Laws and Regulations - 6/23/2006
Court Verdicts Batter Lead Paint Manufacturers - 6/19/2006
Indoor Environment Connections' Legal Year in Review - 12/23/2005
Industry Views: The Best and Worst of IAQ in 2005 - 12/22/2005
Emerging Legal Trends In Mold Claims - 11/9/2005
Construction Defect Claims and Mold: Ten Tips to Reduce Builder Liability (Originally Published in "Indoor Environment CONNECTIONS") - 10/30/2005
Professional Liability Insurance: Why Industrial Hygienists Need It - 9/26/2005
Hospital-Based Infections:Business Opportunities and Liability Risks - 7/1/2005
Standards for Asbestos Control: a Holistic Approach to Managing a Health Hazard - 6/15/2005
Legal Developments in Lead Poisoning Claims for Landlords: Lead Poisoning Myths - True or False? - 1/15/2005
Changes in Water Purification Procedures Can be Harmful (Governo.com exclusive) - 11/29/2004
Cleaning Up Mold: Legislation, Standards and More (Originally published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education) - 11/17/2004
Recommending Health Benefits of Products and Services (Originally published in the "ASHRAE Journal") - 7/1/2004
Home Offices: IAQ and Other Employee Responsibilities (Originally published in "Indoor Environment CONNECTIONS") - 7/1/2004
The Legal Boundaries of Mold Remediation (Originally presented to the Harvard School of Public Health) - 6/7/2004
Advanced Topics in Mold Remediation: Legal Issues (Originally presented to the MidAtlantic Environmental Hygiene Resource Center) - 5/4/2004
Legal and Business Opportunities for CMMS Ready Facilities (Originally published in "Engineered Systems") - 5/1/2004
Is Legislation the Answer to Asbestos Litigation? (Originally published in "Indoor Environment CONNECTIONS") - 5/1/2004
Childhood Lead Poisoning: A Practical and Legal Perspective for Tenants, Landlords and Homeowners (Governo.com exclusive) - 1/1/2004
Emerging Legal Trends in Mold Claims (Originally presented to Lorman Education Services) - 11/19/2003
An Analysis of the Lack of Commonality Assertions in Medical Monitoring Claims (Originally presented to Mealey's) - 11/18/2003
Mold Legal Update: Statutes, Regulations, Standards, Guidelines and More (Originally published in the "Envirotech Newsletter") - 5/1/2003
Bad Faith Insurance Claims in Mold Litigation (Originally published by Lorman Education Services) - 2/1/2003
Exploring The Legal Implications of IAQ in Portable Classrooms (Originally published in "Indoor Environment CONNECTIONS") - 2/1/2003
IAQ (And Mold): Legal Issues in Schools (Originally published in "Indoor Environment CONNECTIONS") - 7/1/2002

Related Presentations
National Lead Litigation Conference Features Governo Law Firm Partner on Potential Sources of Lead Poisoning - 10/18/2012
Trying an Asbestos Case - How to Get the "W" - 6/21/2012
National Forum for Environmental and Toxic Tort Issues Conference - 10/1/2008
ASTM International 2008 Johnson Conference: Critical issues in Monitoring Asbestos, July 14-18, 2008 - 7/14/2008
Mealey’s Lead Litigation Conference April 2007 - 4/19/2007
Mold and Water Intrusion: Successfully Litigating Mold Claims - 7/25/2006
Preventing and Litigating IAQ and Toxic Mold Claims: Expert Strategies for Counseling & Defending Your Client - 4/26/2006
David Governo Honored at ASCR International's Annual Convention and Exhibition - 3/16/2006
Upcoming ASCR Schools - 11/7/2005
Advances in Environmental Mold Issues - 11/2/2005
Liability and Lead Paint Litigation Seminar - 10/27/2005
Legal Risk Management: Weather the Day-To-Day Storms - 9/16/2005
Value Engineering (Presented at the ASHRAE Winter Meeting) - 2/9/2005
Water Loss Specialist School: Legal Issues (Presented to the Water Loss Institute) - 1/26/2005
How to Defend Assertions for Medical Monitoring Damages: An Analysis of the Commonality Requirement - 11/18/2004
Cleaning Up Mold: Legislation, Standards and More (Presented to Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education) - 11/17/2004
Emerging Trends in Mold Claims (Presented at the EnviroExpo Conference) - 5/4/2004
Overview of Legal Trends for Lead and Mold Claims for Landlords (Presented to the Massachusetts Rental Housing Association) - 5/2/2004
Mold and the Law: Preparing for a Deposition (Presented to the American IAQ Council) - 5/1/2004
Bad Faith Insurance Claims In Mold Litigation (Presented to Lorman Education Services) - 2/11/2004

Related Links
Emerging and Environmental Claims Managers Association
Asbestos Liability Risk Analysis Group (ALRA)
National Forum for Environmental & Toxic Tort Issues (FETTI)
Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
Litigation Forum

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