SOMETHING IN THE WATER Why Rob Bilott Took on DuPont
When Bilott stumbled upon a letter from DuPont to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the real horror story began to emerge — one that went far beyond the boundaries of Tennant’s farm and into the drinking water of every American. The letter mentioned a mysterious chemical called PFOA, and Bilott requested documentation from DuPont to find out more about it. However, the company refused, so Bilott requested a court order. Soon, dozens of disorganized boxes filled with thousands of 50-year-old files arrived at Bilott’s firm. He was worried he wouldn’t be able to find anything incriminating or even conclusive in the mess of documents, but soon, his time as an environmental lawyer helped him see the bigger picture. It became clear that DuPont had orchestrated a massive cover-up regarding their use of PFOA. PFOA is used in the manufacturing of Teflon, and the company had knowingly exposed workers and the Parkersburg water supply to it. Bilott filed a class-action suit as a medical monitoring claim on behalf of the people of Parkersburg, and, as of 2011, a probable link between PFOA and six health conditions, including two types of cancer, has been found. Because of the medical monitoring claim, plaintiffs can file personal injury lawsuits against DuPont. So far, 3,535 people have. If it weren’t for Bilott and Tennant, the public might have never known the dangers of PFOA. 3. ‘What kind of results have you obtained?’ An attorney with only small claims to their name has either never handled a big case or has been unable to successfully get larger claims for their clients. If your case has a lot of damages, look for an attorney who can deliver the results you need. 4. ‘When will you return my calls?’ One of the biggest frustrations people have after hiring a lawyer is not having their calls returned. Strong communication between an attorney and their client is vital for case success. Make sure your attorney has a system for promptly returning your calls. 5. ‘Are you willing to go to court?’ While most cases will be settled out of court, you want to work with a lawyer who’s willing to go that extra mile by filing a lawsuit and going to court if that’s what it takes to get you the best possible result. 6. ‘Am I comfortable entrusting this lawyer with my case?’ This is a question you must ask yourself. Once you have all the information, are you comfortable with the idea of this attorney being responsible for your case?
Rob Bilott had no idea of the magnitude or importance of Wilber Tennat's case when he agreed to represent him. The cattle farmer had presented evidence of the strange malady plaguing his cattle to lawyers, politicians, and veterinarians in Parkersburg, West Virginia, but no one took Tennant’s case seriously. But when Bilott saw the evidence for himself, it was clear that something was wrong. The videos and photographs Tennant had collected showed cattle with patchy fur, growths and lesions, white slime coming from their mouths, and staggering gaits.
Tennant told Bilott that the abnormal behavior and physical deformities had started after his brother Jim sold his property to DuPont, a chemical company with a big presence in Parkersburg. Jim’s property bordered on Wilbur’s, and a stream running from Jim’s property provided water for all the cattle and wildlife in the area. Since the sale, the stream had become frothy and discolored, and the animals that drank from it were sick, malformed, or dead, including 153 of Tennant’s 200 cows. All it takes is one bad apple for people to assume the whole barrel is rotten. We see this all the time in law. Stories of ambulance chasers and shady attorneys spread fast. Some people are so worried about getting stuck with a bad lawyer that they don’t call an attorney when they really need one. When you need legal help, ask these six questions to make sure you find an attorney you can trust. 1. ‘What area do you specialize in?’ If you were accused of a crime, you wouldn’t hire a real estate attorney to represent you. Make sure your attorney understands the area of law you need help with so they can better handle your case. 2. ‘Have you handled a case like mine before?’ An attorney who has handled many car accident cases isn’t necessarily the right fit for a medical malpractice case. Make sure your attorney can handle the unique challenges of your case. 6 Questions to Help You Find a Good Attorney Someone You Can Trust
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