Lead

Secrest Wardle has been the premier firm in the defense of lead-based paint claims in the State of Michigan for the past several years. Our attorneys have successfully defended dozens of claims alleging neurological and neuropsychological injuries of minor plaintiffs who have ingested lead-based paint chips and particles. The Firm has successfully tried several cases to jury verdict, including Adamczyk v Webb, et al, one of the few lead paint cases tried to date in Michigan. This claim involved a child with a blood lead level of 55 micrograms per deciliter, who was hospitalized for approximately five days for chelation therapy. The trial lasted approximately 2 ½ weeks following a $2.8 million demand by plaintiff but, ultimately resulted in a no cause of action. Secrest Wardle has also successfully tried a lead-based paint claim in the 36th District Court, a notoriously liberal jurisdiction in the City of Detroit.

We have succeeded in obtaining summary disposition in numerous lead-based paint claims defeating plaintiffs’ theories of fraud, de facto realtor and/or fiduciary relationships on behalf of the sellers of premises containing lead-based paint, and statutory violations. Our attorneys have also been instrumental in defeating plaintiffs’ motions to preclude the examination of minor plaintiffs by physicians licensed in states other than Michigan.

The Firm has been a leader in gathering information on lead-based paint claims and presenting seminars which provide our clients with the information necessary to successfully defend these very complex cases. Counsel from Secrest Wardle have authored numerous articles and related materials, have lectured on lead paint issues at the Midwest Environmental Claims Managers Association (MECA), and have presented for our clients a seminar entitled, “Investigation and Defense of Lead Paint Claims.”