Burn Pit Litigation
Motley Rice attorneys have joined with co-counsel Susan Burke and her firm Burke PLLC in the KBR, Inc., Burn Pit multidistrict litigation to represent clients against multiple defense contractors for allegedly exposing American soldiers, veterans and former employees of defense contractors who worked and lived on or near military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan to toxic smoke, ash and fumes generated through the disposal of waste in open burn pits. The lawsuits allege 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 also allege that the defendants had a duty to warn U.S. service members and civilians working and living around burn pit fumes about health and safety issues but failed to properly do so.
The lawsuits claim that these contractors used open burn pits rather than clean-burning incinerators at the majority of U.S. Military facilities in the Middle East in order to increase profits. Items disposed of in the burn pits may have included hazardous medical waste, hydraulic fluids, lithium batteries, tires and trucks (see detailed list below).
The defendants who contracted to provide waste disposal services for United States operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are Texas-based contractors KBR, Inc.; Kellogg, Brown & Root Services, Inc.; Kellogg, Brown & Root LLC and Halliburton Company and Turkish-based ERKA Ltd..
The plaintiffs seek monetary damages to compensate them for physical injuries, emotional distress, fear of future disease and the need for continued medical treatment and monitoring that the defendants allegedly caused.
If you or a loved one lived or worked on a military base in Iraq or Afghanistan that operated one or more burn pits and developed any of the health issues listed below, you may be eligible to participate in a lawsuit.
Burn Pit Exposure Symptoms
Adverse side effects reported by those who have been exposed to burn pits while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan include:
- Allergy-like symptoms
- Asthma
- Breathing restrictions
- Cancers (Lung, brain, bone, skin)
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic coughs
- Constant Infections
- Constrictive bronchiolitis
- Cramps and severe abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Leukemia
- Lung Cancer
- Nose Bleeds
- Pulmonary injuries
- Serious heart conditions
- Severe headache
- Skin infection
- Sleep apnea
- Small airway diseases
- Throat Infections
- Ulcers
- Unexpected weight loss
- Vomiting
- Weeping lesions on extremities
Burn Pit Waste Materials
Burning plastics, pesticides, types of solid waste and heavy metals is known to release various toxic gases that may cause permanent chronic health problems for individuals who experience prolonged exposure. The following products may have been disposed of in the burn pits, resulting in the release of toxic gases.
- Animal carcasses
- Asbestos Insulation
- Biohazard materials (including human corpses)
- Dangerous chemicals
- Fuel
- Hydraulic fluids
- Items containing pesticides
- Lithium batteries
- Medical supplies (including those used during smallpox inoculations)
- Medical waste
- Metals
- Munitions boxes
- Paints
- Paper
- Petroleum-oil-lubricating products
- Plastic water bottles
- Polyvinyl chloride pipes
- Rubber
- Solvents
- Styrofoam
- Tires
- Trucks
- Wood
Congressional Acts
President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law on October 28, 2009. The Act contained an amendment that would enforce the restriction 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 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.
Click here for coverage of the DPC hearing held on November 6, 2009 and for more information about available Burn Pit Resources.
Click here for information about how you can support political action by contacting the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.
For the latest information and media related to burn pit litigation visit http://www.burnpitlawsuit.com.
Contact Us
If you or someone you know may have experienced adverse side effects or death as a result of burn pit exposure, contact Motley Rice attorney Joe Rice by email or call +1 800.768.4026.
