Citizen suits are lawsuits brought on by a private citizen in order to enforce a statute. Most commonly, citizen suits are conducted in the field of environmental law in order to protect and uphold safety standards that are or have been violated in some manner. Some of the environmental laws that allow citizen suits include the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act of 1970, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
If you believe you or a loved one may qualify to participate in a citizen suit, we want to help you. For over 30 years, our law firm has been fighting to defend people with cases just like yours.
How Do I Become Involved in a Citizen Suit?
There are three ways you may participate in a citizen suit. The first is when a private citizen brings a lawsuit against another citizen, government body, or corporation for improper conduct. An example of an environmental suit would be a citizen suing a company under the Clean Water Act (CWA) for illegally dumping pollutants into a waterway.
The second way would be when a private citizen brings a lawsuit against a government body for refusing to uphold a non-discretionary duty. For instance, a citizen could sue the Environmental Protection Agency for falling back on its commitment to enforce contamination regulations set by the CWA.
Lastly, which is the least common way, a citizen may sue for an injunction to minimize the potential endangerment from the disposal or handling of waste, regardless of whether or not the defendant's actions violate a statutory prohibition. For more information regarding citizen suits and how you can get involved, we highly recommend you speak to an attorney.
Why Morgan & Morgan?
At Morgan & Morgan, we fight for the people, not the powerful. When you hire us, you'll have someone fighting in your corner. After your initial consultation, your legal team will get straight to work on your case. Your attorney will gather evidence to build the strongest possible case. In order to do so, they may consult with experts, reinterview witnesses, and gather any records that may pertain to your case. Once enough evidence has been collected, they will then negotiate outside of court with the defendant in order to secure your full and fair compensation. If negotiations prove to be unsuccessful, your attorney is prepared to represent you in court.
Can I Afford an Attorney?
When you hire us, you never have to worry whether or not you'll be able to afford our fees. At Morgan & Morgan, our attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning we only get paid if you win. There are absolutely zero upfront costs to hire one of our attorneys; any fees we charge come out of your settlements—never out of your own pocket.
See if You Have a Case
For over 35 years, our law firm has been fighting for the People. When you hire Morgan & Morgan, you'll always have someone fighting in your corner. With a proven track record and over 20 billion won for our clients, there is a reason our clients trust us to fight for them. If you believe you or a loved one have been injured or fallen ill due to environmental factors, we may be able to help you receive legal compensation for your damages.
To get started, please fill out our free no-obligation case review form today to have one of our environmental citizen suit attorneys evaluate your case.