Ethylene Oxide: Mass Toxic Exposure Regulation and Litigation
PANEL DESCRIPTION
Ethylene oxide is a widely used industrial chemical that has drawn increased scrutiny due to concerns about potential health and environmental impacts in Louisiana. This panel will explore the legal, regulatory, and practical challenges associated with addressing large-scale toxic exposure, including evolving regulatory frameworks, scientific uncertainty, and the complexities of accountability and enforcement. Panelists will also consider broader implications for affected communities and environmental law practice.
Moderated by Forge Mathis.
ASHLEY LIUZZA, STAG LIUZZA
Ashley M. Liuzza is a Partner and the Chief Operating Officer of Stag Liuzza. Her practice centers on litigating complex environmental pollution claims and toxic exposure claims. Ashley representsa variety of impacted residents, landowners, and municipalities throughout the country.
In the national PFAS MDL, Ashley has worked closely with leadership to investigate scientific causation and defendant liability. She also assists municipal clients in gathering information and data for their PFAS lawsuits and settlement claim applications ensuring that no stone is left unturned, and maximum recovery is obtained. Along with her firm, Ashley represents over 300 municipal entities and thousands of individuals in PFAS litigation.
Notably, Ms. Liuzza has successfully resolved numerous mass tort cases involving environmental exposure and pollution. She represented hundreds of residents impacted by industrial air pollution following Hurricane Katrina in In re Bertucci Contracting Co., LLC as Owner of the M/V Sharon Gail, 2:12-cv-0664, United Stated District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Ms. Liuzza also represented hundreds of residents in Nolan, et al. v. Exxon Mobil Corp., et al. who suffered damages from air emissions from a refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Ms. Liuzza has successfully litigated numerous oil pollution cases for private landowners resulting in property remediation and restoration throughout Louisiana.
Ms. Liuzza was appointed co-lead class counsel in Wheeler, et al. v. Arkema, et al., on behalf of a class of over 28,000 members outside of Houston, Texas for their damages following fires at the Arkema facility during Hurricane Harvey which resulted in a class settlement. As part of the class settlement a fund for site characterization and remediation in the community was set up. A special master is implementing the approved plan at this time.
MICHAEL STAG, STAG LIUZZA
Michael G. Stag is a Partner and Chief Executive Officer at Stag Liuzza. Mr. Stag is involved in all practice areas at Stag Liuzza, with a particular passion for achieving justice for those who have been harmed by large corporations and oil companies. Mr. Stag helped pioneer the field of Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM or NORM) litigation.
Over the years, he has recovered awards of more than $300 million in settlements and in excess of $1 billion in jury verdicts for his clients. Mr. Stag was recognized in the Lawyers Weekly Top 10 Jury Verdicts of 2001 related to the $1.056 Billion verdict Grefer v. Exxon, et al. He was also an executive committee member for the class action in the Patrick Joseph Turner, et al. v. Murphy Oil USA, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, which resulted in monetary compensation and cleanup settlement valued in excess of $300 million.
In the In re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation MDL, Mr. Stag represents hundreds of municipalities seeking remediation costs and 2000+ individuals, including former fire-fighters and military personnel who were injured as a result of exposure to Aqueous Film Forming Foam used in fire management. Mr. Stag was also appointed to the Plaintiff Executive Committee for this MDL.