Toxic Substances Litigation in the Fourth Circuit

Personal injuries caused by toxic substances have generated problems of major concern to our social, political and legal systems. Reports in the news media concerning harm caused by toxic substances and expressions of public awareness of potential dangers associated with exposure to toxic substances are commonplace. Legislatures, administrative agencies and courts at both federal and state levels have begun to devote substantial energy to addressing issues raised by exposure to toxic Substances. Scientific, industrial, financial, and legal communities are seeking to deal with these problems from a number of different perspectives.

Just as terms such as "Love Canal" and "asbestosis" have been added to the vocabulary of a generation of Americans, concepts such as "enterprise liability" and "collateral estoppel" are developing new meanings and roles in our legal system.