The spill, which is purported to be the size of Delaware, stands to become the nation’s worst environmental disaster in decades.
Shortly, Brockovich will travel to Louisiana, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi to meet the many people who’ve been so severely impacted by the spill.
Brockovich was quoted as saying: “People want to know, ‘What will happen to the ecosystem, the fish and wildlife? Who can help local commercial fishermen, property owners whose land has been ruined, and families worried about the spill’s impact on their food and health?
The massive spill occurred after an offshore BP oil rig exploded on April 20. Weitz & Luxenberg has filed lawsuits in response to the disaster, along with many other law firms. The suits seek to recover damages suffered by clients due to the spill.
The fast-moving oil slick has already devastated or is threatening to devastate marine and coast environments, and estuarine areas, which are used for fishing, and for many plaintiffs to earn a livelihood.
According to the Fisheries Service of the NOAA, the Gulf region accounts for about 20% of total U.S. commercial seafood production and nearly 75% of the nation’s shrimp output, while nearly 33% of all marine recreational fishing trips take place on Gulf waters.
Founded in 1986, Weitz & Luxenberg is one of the leading plaintiffs’ litigation law firms in America. The firm has played leading roles in many national and local cases ranging from mesothelioma to the TVA coal ash sludge spill in Tennessee.