Burn Pit Lawsuit

President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law on October 28, 2009.  The Act contains an amendment which bans the improper use of burn pits. The Act also requires the Department of Defense to thoroughly investigate burn pit effects on troops and explore alternative means of waste disposal. On November 6, 2009, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee (DPC) held a hearing on contracting abuses and corruption in Iraq and Afghanistan and discussed the health risks associated with the continued use of open-air burn pits.

View the November 6, 2009 DPC hearing entitled “Are Burn Pits in Iraq and Afghanistan Making Our Soldiers Sick?”

We welcome you to contact us about a potential lawsuit if you, a family member or friend developed any adverse health issues after living or working on a military base in Iraq or Afghanistan that operated one or more burn pits. Contact Motley Rice attorney Joe Rice by email or call 1.800.768.4026.

On April 5, 2010, the plaintiffs filed Jobes v. KBR, Inc. et al., alleging that prolonged exposure to the pits’ smoke, ash and fumes caused injuries such as chronic illnesses, risk of illnesses and wrongful death. The injured plaintiffs allege the defendants had a duty to warn U.S. service members and civilians working and living around burn pits of the health and safety issues but failed to properly do so. The burn pit lawsuits, filed across the country, were consolidated in In re KBR Inc. Burn Pit Litigation before the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland by the Honorable Roger W. Titus.

Plaintiffs also allege these contractors used open-air burn pits as opposed to other, safer alternatives to increase profits. Items disposed of in burn pits may have included hazardous medical waste, hydraulic fluids, lithium batteries, tires, trucks and more.

The defendants who were contracted to provide waste disposal services for U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are Texas-based contractors KBR, Inc.; Kellogg, Brown & Root Services, Inc.; Kellogg, Brown & Root LLC; and Halliburton Company. The plaintiffs seek accountability from KBR/Halliburton for their alleged negligent acts, as well as monetary damages to compensate them for physical injuries, emotional distress, fear of future disease, and the need for continued medical treatment and monitoring.