New Orleans
Louisiana’s industrial corridor, the stretch of chemical plants and refineries lining the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, has given the state some of the nation’s highest rates of industrial chemical exposure.
When a company’s emissions, discharges, or unsafe handling of hazardous substances make people sick, The Voorhies Law Firm is here to hold them accountable.
A toxic tort is a claim for harm caused by exposure to a dangerous chemical or substance, whether through air emissions, contaminated water, occupational exposure, or a defective product.
These cases often involve:
Toxic tort cases are among the most complex claims in personal injury law.
They typically require scientific and medical evidence connecting a specific exposure to a specific illness, which is why early investigation by an experienced legal team matters so much.
Toxic tort claims in Louisiana can draw on several overlapping legal theories, depending on the source of the exposure.
Most toxic tort claims proceed under general negligence principles (La. Civ. Code art. 2315).
Because illnesses like cancer often take years or decades to develop after exposure, Louisiana courts have recognized doctrines, like contra non valentem, which can affect when the prescriptive clock actually starts running in these types of cases, where the harm was not, and could not reasonably have been, discovered immediately.
If the exposure came from a defective product rather than an emission or discharge, the claim may instead fall under the Louisiana Products Liability Act, La. R.S. 9:2800.51.
Louisiana Civil Code article 3493.1 sets a two-year filing deadline, running from the date of injury, for incidents occurring on or after July 1, 2024.
That’s twice the one-year period the state allowed before this change took effect. Exposure or injury before that date generally still falls under the earlier one-year rule in former article 3492.
As of January 1, 2026, Louisiana’s comparative fault rule changed under article 2323.
This states that a claimant who is found to be 51% or more at fault for their own harm, can no longer recover anything, while a lower fault percentage simply reduces the award proportionally.
Fault disputes in toxic exposure cases often center on things like whether protective equipment was provided or ignored, which makes early investigation important.
STEP 1
Free consultation.
Tell us about your exposure history and health concerns. We’ll give you an honest, no-cost assessment.
STEP 2
Exposure investigation.
We research the source, duration, and documented history of the exposure at issue.
STEP 3
Medical and scientific evidence.
We work with medical and toxicology experts to connect your exposure to your diagnosis.
STEP 4
Records review.
We dig into regulatory filings, inspection records, and any prior complaints against the responsible party.
STEP 5
Damage calculation.
We account for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and the long-term impact of the exposure.
STEP 6
Demand and negotiation.
We present your claim and negotiate from a position built on solid evidence.
STEP 7
Filing suit, if needed.
If a fair resolution isn’t offered, we file before your deadline and prepare your case for the long haul.
STEP 8
Resolution.
Your case resolves, whether through settlement or a jury verdict, and you receive your compensation.
We handle toxic exposure claims involving:
Toxic tort cases are not like a car accident claim with a clear picture of what happens before and after the accident.
They involve years of scientific evidence, medical causation, and, often, a company that has spent significant resources denying any responsibility for illnesses and damage.
Our job is to build the case that cuts through all of that.
The Voorhies Law Firm has recovered over $100 million for our clients across all our practice areas, but every toxic exposure matter depends heavily on its own facts, the specific chemical involved, the exposure history, and the medical evidence.
Past results do not indicate what any individual case is worth.
Toxic exposure cases take years of scientific and legal groundwork, and a lot of companies are counting on plaintiffs to give up before that work gets done.
Richard P. Voorhies III and the team at The Voorhies Law Firm have spent years building exactly that kind of long-haul case in Louisiana.
We’re recognized by Super Lawyers, the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums, and other legal organizations, but the work that matters most happens outside of earning these awards. What matters most is our clients knowing that they have direct access to their attorney – and someone always in their corner.
Possibly. Louisiana law recognizes that some illnesses take years to develop, and courts have applied discovery-rule principles in cases where the harm couldn’t reasonably have been known earlier. This is a fact-specific question that’s worth discussing with an attorney as soon as possible rather than assuming you’re out of time.
These cases typically require medical and scientific evidence connecting your specific exposure to your specific diagnosis, often through expert testimony, environmental monitoring data, and your exposure history. This is exactly the kind of investigation an experienced toxic tort attorney is equipped to build.
You may still want to speak with an attorney to understand your options and start documenting your exposure history, even before a diagnosis. Early documentation can matter significantly if a health issue develops later.
It depends heavily on when the harm was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered, not just when exposure occurred. An attorney can evaluate the specific timeline in your case.
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, so our fee comes only out of what we recover.
