With the ‘Feindt’ federal lawsuit gaining momentum and hundreds of military family members and civilians impacted by water contamination, the capabilities of the legal team are further strengthened
HONOLULU, Hawaii, Nov. 1, 2022 – Powerhouse trial attorney W. Mark Lanier has joined the legal team for hundreds of military family members and civilians affected by the U.S. Navy’s catastrophic 2021 contamination of the water supply near the Red Hill fuel storage facility in Hawai’i, the Just Well Law firm and the Hosoda Law Group said today.
In announcing the development, attorneys Kristina S. Baehr and James Baehr, of Just Well Law, of Austin, Texas, and Lyle S. Hosoda, of the Hosoda Law Group, of Honolulu said, “As our Red Hill federal-court case gains momentum, we enthusiastically welcome Mark and his firm to our team. He is recognized as one of the top trial civil lawyers in the nation and his skills and experience complement those of our team. As the scope and demands of the case grow, the time is right to further strengthen our team.”
Lanier, a zealous advocate for individuals in personal injury and product liability claims against major corporations, has won nearly $20 billion in verdicts during his 30-year career. Based in Houston, the Lanier Law Firm has represented victims of dangerous drugs, medical devices, and other consumer products. Lanier also has successfully represented clients in claims involving fraud, breach of contract and other forms of business litigation.
“The military families and civilians impacted by the Red Hill disaster deserve justice,” Lanier said. “I am pleased to join this team of Kristina, Jim and Lyle and their firms in prosecuting this important lawsuit. Together, we will do everything we can to help hold the Navy accountable for its conduct before, during and after the Red Hill contamination.”
Filed in Honolulu federal court on August 31, the lawsuit accuses the Navy of releasing thousands of gallons of jet fuel and other contaminants into the families’ drinking water at least twice in 2021. The four families named in the lawsuit suffer from multiple medical conditions, the lawsuit asserts. The law firms represent hundreds more plaintiffs who have filed pre-litigation SF-95 administrative claim forms with the government under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) and whose claims will be added to the suit imminently, the law firms said. Those families have reported seizures, gastrointestinal disorders, neurological issues, burns, rashes, lesions, thyroid abnormalities, migraines, neurobehavioral challenges, and other maladies.
The Navy still has not fully disclosed that affected families are still sick, or provided appropriate medical care, according to the lawsuit. After the filing of the lawsuit, according to published reports, the Navy admitted that it destroyed thousands of Red Hill water test results. Other test results also are still missing, the law firms said.
The lawsuit is Patrick Feindt, Jr., et al., v. The United States of America, Case No. 1:22-cv-0039, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai`i. On Monday, the Court set a trial date of Jan. 29, 2024.
CONTACT: Erin Powers, Powers MediaWorks LLC, for Just Well Law and the Hosoda Law Group, [email protected], 281.703.6000.
