Environmental
Torts

Environmental law is a broad field that includes claims relating to pollution on land, of the sea and of the air.  Any interference with your enjoyment of your land, sea or air may give rise to a remedy. Nuisances that interfere with the enjoyment of land, sea and air may arise in many different ways. Claims may be prosecuted by reference to the laws of nuisance, negligence and statutory laws. In some cases, International Conventions are applicable. Claims may be for monetary compensation for interference and disruption suffered by those affected, or may be for injunctive relief to halt the behaviour complained of.

Members of the GJN are able to help with a wide range of claims that arise from:

• Asbestos exposure
• Contaminated land and water supplies
• Marine pollution
• Air pollution
• Transportation disasters
• Oil and gas exploration
• Fracking
• Dust
• Noise
• Waste disposal

In many cases the number of people and businesses that are affected by the offending behaviour may be huge and there is merit in acting together.  In that way it is possible to sometimes overcome the difficulties one single person would face against a major corporation.

Many environmental cases are made more complex by ‘cross border’ elements. To put this at its simplest, the damage may be suffered in one country, by offending conduct in a different country, caused by a responsible party who is resident in a third country. These international elements require an approach that takes account of the laws in various jurisdictions. The GJN is uniquely well placed to assist with such cases.