Jerry handles toxic tort and products liability cases, environmental cost recovery and environmental insurance litigation, and complex commercial litigation matters.
Jerry has defended numerous chemical companies in federal and state courts throughout the country in alleged chemical exposure claims in workplace or products cases involving acids, bases, solvents, PCBs, vinyl chloride, radioactive material, electrical and microelectronics chemicals, pesticides and insecticides, benzene, TDI and other chemicals. He has represented clients in alleged trespass, nuisance, stigma and diminution in property damage claims from release of these chemicals in the environment.
He also manages environmental actions nationwide in administrative and litigation, providing defense for owner-operators, arrangers and generators facing potential liability under the federal Superfund hazardous waste legislation and its state counterparts. Jerry has represented Fortune 500 companies at more than 100 state and federal environmental sites at all stages, including administrative proceedings and cost recovery actions. He has represented chemical companies in environmental pollution insurance coverage against numerous insurance companies resulting in recoveries in excess of $100 million.
Between receiving his undergraduate degree and law school, Jerry spent five years as an environmental research chemist at Monsanto.
Professional Associations & Memberships
· American Bar Association
· The Missouri Bar
Experience
· Handled more than 20 vinyl chloride lawsuits throughout the country alleging various cancers and civil conspiracy
· Handled an environmental insurance recovery litigation resulting in multi-million dollar recovery of defense costs and pollution property damage which prior to Husch Blackwell's involvement resulted in limited recovery for the client
· Handled multi-plaintiff microelectronics products liability claims pending in New York
· Defeated class certification of medical monitoring and stigma damage claims arising out of chemical plants in New Jersey and Texas