Willman & Silvaggio has successfully defended toxic tort cases for three decades. Companies named in such suits face the potential for considerable loss in the form of damages, ongoing legal costs and negative publicity. Our firm’s representations of manufacturers, distributors and contractors of chemicals and substances has allowed us to develop expertise in the handling of thousands of toxic tort claims both on a national and local basis.

The firm has served as national coordinating counsel for companies involved in mass toxic tort litigation. Our firm has also served as liaison counsel in cases involving large numbers of manufacturing suppliers and premise defendants. We have handled cases involving products such as: asbestos, benzene, isocyanides, coal tar pitch volatiles, toluene, formaldehyde, silica, PCBs, herbicides, pesticides, lead paint, and mold.

Willman & Silvaggio has successfully defended toxic tort cases for three decades.  Companies named in such suits face the potential for considerable loss in the form of damages, ongoing legal costs and negative publicity.  Our firm’s representation of manufacturers, distributors and contractors of chemicals and substances has allowed us to develop our expertise in the handling of thousands of toxic tort claims both on a national and local level.

In addition to defending individual cases, the firm has served as national coordinating counsel for companies involved in mass toxic tort litigation.  Our firm has also served as liaison counsel in cases involving large numbers of manufacturers, suppliers and premise defendants.  We have been retained in cases on behalf of manufacturers or sellers of products containing asbestos, silica, isocyanides, coal tar pitch volatiles, toluene, formaldehyde, PCBs, herbicides, pesticides, lead paint and mold.

A number of our toxic tort matters have involved large numbers of cases in numerous states and jurisdictions.  Our experience has allowed us to develop a cost-efficient approach to this litigation.  Our technological resources allow us to track vast quantities of information and electronically manage documents that are essential to controlling costs and expediting cases, always keeping in mind the best result for the client.

Asbestos

When it comes to litigation over exposure to asbestos, Willman & Silvaggio stands out among the firms defending these suits.  Our lawyers regularly attend depositions regionally and nationally on behalf of our clients.  We also defend our clients in depositions brought by plaintiff’s firms.  On a national scale, companies that manufactured or sold asbestos and asbestos containing products, or companies that are successors in interest to companies in the asbestos business face potentially billions of dollars in law suits.  Willman & Silvaggio possesses the experience and resources to handle the cases filed against its clients effectively and efficiently.

Understanding the medical aspects of asbestos cases is key in the defense of the cases.  Willman & Silvaggio takes a leadership role in preparing the medical defense in many cases.  We have been asked and accepted the role of coordinating the medical defense for cases filed by plaintiff’s in Ohio.  In the role of medical coordinator, Willman & Silvaggio acts as a liaison between the defense counsel and the medical professionals retained in the individual cases.  The experience in trying asbestos cases on the part of the attorneys at Willman & Silvaggio, and the training and experience of Willman & Silvaggio’s professional support staff combine to provide the strongest possible defense for our clients who find themselves named in asbestos cases.

Since asbestos was used for many years, a staggering number of current and potential cases face many defendants.  Willman & Silvaggio approach this challenge by utilizing technology to manage the case load.  By bringing the power of technology to bear on the vast number of asbestos cases filed each year, Willman & Silvaggio can see the scope of the litigation facing our client while, at the same time, providing each individual case the attention needed to present a powerful defense.

Silica

Willman & Silvaggio has been at the forefront of the reemerging silica litigation that many of our corporate clients have been facing.  We have represented companies that have sold silica containing products as well as manufacturers of protective equipment, mining equipment and air compression equipment.  As a result of the similarities found in the asbestos and silica cases, silica clients are being represented by the plaintiff law firms that are also active in the asbestos industry.  We have a long standing relationship with many of these firms and an excellent reputation in this legal community.  Our experience in the field of toxic torts has resulted in our leadership role among silica defendants.  As a member of the medical defense advisory committees in various jurisdictions, we have had the opportunity to work closely with the medical experts.  By utilizing the latest technology, we are able to represent our clients in the best possible manner.

Solvents/Benzene

Willman & Silvaggio has represented various manufacturers and suppliers of benzene and related materials containing aromatic hydrocarbons. Plaintiffs in these cases allege that they contracted blood disorders, mainly in the form of leukemia, as a result of exposure to benzene.  Not only do these plaintiffs seek damages for personal injuries, they also seek damages for the fear of future diseases and medical monitoring.  Our vast experience in the field of toxic torts, coupled with our use of the latest technology, allows us to provide our clients with excellent representation.

Welding Rods

Claims of personal injuries from welding rod fumes are hardly new.  In the next year alone, it is estimated that several thousand individual welding rod claims will be filed from a pool of 50,000 to 100,000 current and former welders claiming personal injury from exposure to welding rod fumes.  Willman & Silvaggio has the infrastructure and knowledge base necessary to successfully defend the interests of our clients in the realm of increasingly complex toxic tort litigation.  We have experience in handling every aspects of complex litigation of this sort on the national and local levels in State and Federal courts.

Mold

Willman & Silvaggio has been at the forefront of the legal community in educating and managing litigation for a variety of clients impacted by mold claims. The list of potential defendants in mold litigation is lengthy.  Those most frequently sued in toxic mold cases are developers, builders, contractors, and landlords. Other defendants include architects and engineers, manufacturers of building materials, environmental consultants, mold remediation firms, real estate agents, building inspectors, property managers, and the sellers of mold infested buildings and homes.  Insurance providers have also felt the impact of mold contamination, re-mediation and litigation.

Just as there are numerous types of defendants and causes of action, there are a multitude of available defenses.  Mold cases by their very nature are expert intensive and require a law firm that has the expertise to handle such complex litigation.  The experience, knowledge and skill of the attorneys defending the case will largely determine the result of the lawsuit.  Willman & Silvaggio has the experience necessary to handle every aspect of a case from assessment and valuation through settlement negotiations and when necessary, tenaciously litigating the case through trial.