SOMETHING IN THE WATER Why Rob Bilott Took on DuPont
Rob Bilott never should have agreed to represent Wilbur Tennant’s case.
that went far beyond the boundaries of Tennant’s farm and into the drinking water of every American.
The cattle farmer hadpresented evidence of the strangemalady plaguing his cattle to lawyers, politicians, and veterinarians in Parkersburg, West Virginia, but no one took Tennant’s case seriously.
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 would not 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 themedical monitoring claim, plaintiffs can file personal injury lawsuits against DuPont. So far, 3,535 people have. If it were not for Bilott and Tennant, the public might have never known the dangers of PFOA.
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.
When Bilott stumbled upon a letter from DuPont to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the real horror story began to emerge — one
HAVING A LONG-TERM CARE PLAN
April is Financial Literacy Month, and so much of financial literacy is about being smart and intentional with your money. At Hegwood Law Group, we are always working to make sure our clients understand how their plans, or lack thereof, might impact their finances, including the often-overlooked long-term care plan. The expense of long-term care, particularly in a skilled nursing facility, can be exorbitant, and a plan taking that cost into consideration is essential to protect your legacy. We work with our clients on a broad range of commonly encountered long-term care issues, like planning for incapacity (living wills and advance medical directives), arranging for home care, qualifying for public benefits, protecting assets, selecting the right nursing home, and assigning guardianships/conservatorships. It is not fun stuff to think about, but we are committed to protecting your legal rights so you can continue to enjoy a high quality of life long into old age.
At Hegwood Law Group, we practice law because we have been called to do so. We understand how overwhelming it can be to deal with the issues associated with aging, and we will offer you all the compassion, knowledge, and attention you deserve. If you need a push to get going on your long-term care planning, let Financial Literacy Month be it. Building a strong plan is essential to protect your legacy. Visit our website at Hegwoodlaw.com to get started today.
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