Rebecca Fonseca represents communities impacted by groundwater contamination and other toxic exposures and works to improve worker health and safety
Rebecca focuses her practice on PFAS and toxic exposure litigation. She represents residents of Elkton, Md. in litigation alleging widespread groundwater contamination with PFAS. Rebecca also represents public water provider clients litigating their claims in In re Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2873. In this multidistrict litigation she also represents land owners who allege their property was contaminated by PFAS from firefighting foam.
In 2018, she began representing residents of Rockford, Mich. whose wells were contaminated with PFAS. Rebecca was involved in all aspects of that litigation, including helping prepare a bellwether case for trial in 2021. Rebecca has taken depositions of witnesses from 3M Company, W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., and Wolverine World Wide, Inc. Additionally, Rebecca represents residents of North and South Carolina who have been impacted by emissions of hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and other toxic air pollutants from a pulp and paper mill in Catawba, South Carolina.
She also works closely with scientists in the fields of hydrogeology and soil agronomy to determine the source and extent of PFAS contamination. In 2022, Rebecca spoke about emerging groundwater contaminants at a conference sponsored by the National Science Foundation and organized by the University of Alabama’s Center for Water Quality Research. She has also spoken at the Council for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) National Conference on Worker Safety and Health, including bilingual presentations in Spanish, about legal remedies available to workers injured in the workplace or diagnosed with an occupational disease.
Beyond her toxic exposure casework, Rebecca represents clients with catastrophic injuries, including brain injury and paralysis, as well as clients harmed by asbestos exposure. She was also involved in litigation regarding the alleged deceptive marketing and distribution of opioids.
While completing her legal studies, Rebecca served as a managing editor for the Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal. She served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Linda Ann Wells of Florida’s Third District Court of Appeals.
Rebecca is fluent in Spanish and French.
Awards, Accolades & Recognitions
The National Trial Lawyers
2022 Civil Plaintiff - Top 40 under 40 Trial Lawyer list, South Carolina
Blog Posts
November 26, 2024
Can You Sue for Lead Poisoning
by: Fidelma L. Fitzpatrick
January 25, 2021
Auto owners’ manual for navigating through vehicle recalls Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Lee M. Heath
December 1, 2020
Lung cancer rates in non-smokers continue to increase Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Lance Oliver
News
April 28, 2025
The history and legacy of Workers’ Memorial Day
by:
M. Nolan Webb
April 1, 2025
Finish the asbestos ban to improve worker safety
by:
Nathan D. Finch
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