BLB&G represents public pension funds, attorney general offices, and other public entities in litigation arising from environmental misconduct that endangers natural resources, public health, and the integrity of our capital markets.
We handle matters involving:
- Catastrophic industrial spills and dam failures
- Toxic emissions and hazardous-chemical releases
- Fraudulent “green” marketing and disclosure schemes
- Natural resource damage
- Cases at the intersection of environmental harm and securities fraud
Across these matters, we deploy seasoned trial lawyers, financial analysts, and technical experts to confront corporate actors whose misconduct causes environmental harm. Our goal is straightforward: hold polluters fully accountable, secure monetary recoveries that fund remediation and community relief, and drive structural reforms that prevent future damage.
Representative Matters
Lumber Liquidators Holdings
BLB&G prosecuted securities fraud claims alleging that Lumber Liquidators concealed dangerously high formaldehyde levels in its Chinese-sourced laminate flooring and misrepresented its compliance with timber-import regulations. Successive revelations—from independent laboratory tests, federal search warrants, and a nationally televised exposé—wiped out billions in market value. After vigorous litigation, we achieved a settlement of $26 million in cash plus one million shares of company stock, compensating investors and shining a spotlight on unlawful sourcing practices.
Vale
BLB&G took action against Brazilian miner Vale after the November 2015 failure of the Fundão dam released toxic waste across Minas Gerais, killing 19 and devastating hundreds of miles of waterways. The complaint alleged that Vale and its executives ignored safety warnings, secretly dumped additional waste, and falsely touted robust environmental and risk-management controls. Disclosure of the collapse and Vale’s underlying misconduct erased hundreds of millions in market value and prompted global investigations. The action settled for $25 million, delivering restitution to investors and highlighting the consequences of neglecting environmental safety.
Volkswagen
BLB&G prosecuted a securities action against Volkswagen, which had secretly equipped its “Clean Diesel” vehicles with software that cheated emissions tests and allowed real-world nitrogen oxide output up to 40 times the legal limits. When U.S. regulators exposed the scheme, billions of dollars in investor value were erased amid worldwide recalls and criminal probes. BLB&G alleged that senior executives knowingly misled investors about environmental compliance and product integrity. We settled the litigation for $48 million, providing meaningful compensation to defrauded investors and reinforcing accountability for environmental misconduct.
BP
Following the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, BLB&G was retained by multiple U.S. and European public funds to assert U.S. claims against Anadarko Petroleum Corporation for misleading investors about its deepwater Macondo well site—a joint venture that Anadarko entered into with BP and MOEX Offshore 2007 LLC. Our cross-border strategy—combining federal securities claims, English common law deceit, and UK statutory remedies—demonstrated BP’s systemic safety failures and secured significant recoveries while advancing international jurisprudence on transnational environmental fraud.
Sotera Health Company
We are currently pursuing claims alleging that Sotera Health Company understated the cancer risks tied to ethylene oxide releases from its medical device sterilization facilities. A September 2022 jury verdict—finding the company’s conduct “willful and wanton” and linking its emissions to a resident’s cancer—undermined Sotera’s repeated assurances of effective controls and regulatory compliance. Internal documents revealed longstanding awareness of the hazard and delays in installing adequate pollution-control equipment. Our case seeks to recover losses and drive improved emissions controls nationwide.
Sector-Specific Securities Expertise
Our environmental work is reinforced by decades of prosecuting securities fraud actions in the energy sector—including landmark cases against EQT, El Paso Corporation, and SCANA Corporation and ongoing high-profile cases against Exxon Mobil and Energy Transfer. The financial, technical, and regulatory insight gained in those matters enhances our ability to investigate and litigate complex environmental claims on behalf of public stakeholders.
Contact Us
Please reach out to discuss a potential environmental matter or learn more about our practice.
