Legal Blog

Why Owners, Contractors and Design Professionals Need a Mass Tort Litigator on Their Team – Part 2


In my last post, I said that I would post on our monthly blog a summary of the hazard and best practices based on my experience. Today, I will address the hazard of polyurethane foam in existing structures and the remediation procedure required upon its discovery by the owner or tenant. Polyurethane foam is perhaps the greatest insulator available for commercial structures from Alaska to the Virgin Islands. Unfortunately, once ignited, it burns at warp speed. I have been involved in cases where the fire department arrived within two minutes of the alarm only to find the structure burned to the ground. They were subject to the fire phenomena of flash over. Individuals in the structures may not make it to an exit. A by-product of the flames is hydrogen cyanide gas which is lethal to all species. I have personally deposed many fire experts who customarily testify against the owners and tenants of the structures.

If you find yourself as a potential defendant, call me and I can help you with my experience and best practices.

 

Questions about this topic or any other construction law issue?
Contact John Scaldara at jscaldara@offitkurman.com or 443.738.1581.

ABOUT JOHN SCALDARA

jscaldara@offitkurman.com | 443.738.1581

Mr. Scaldara is chair of the firm’s Construction and Commercial Claims Practice Group, and a member of the Business Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Scaldara brings to the firm more than 50 years of experience in advising clients on various legal issues regarding commercial litigation, alternative dispute resolution, insurance, and other commercial matters. He is a member of both the Business Litigation Department and the Business Law Department of Offit Kurman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN

Offit Kurman is one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. With over 170 attorneys offering a comprehensive range of services in virtually every legal category, the firm is well positioned to meet the needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. Our eleven offices serve individual and corporate clients in the Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City regions. At Offit Kurman, we are our clients’ most trusted legal advisors, professionals who help maximize and protect business value and personal wealth. In every interaction, we consistently maintain our clients’ confidence by remaining focused on furthering their objectives and achieving their goals in an efficient manner. Trust, knowledge, confidence—in a partner, that’s perfect.

You can connect with Offit Kurman via our Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and LinkedIn pages. You can also sign up to receive Law Matters, Offit Kurman’s monthly newsletter covering a diverse selection of legal and corporate thought leadership content.

MARYLAND | PENNSYLVANIA | VIRGINIA| NEW JERSEY | NEW YORK | DELAWARE | WASHINGTON, DC