UPDATE 11-15-2024: James Bilsborrow was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for this litigation.
Weitz & Luxenberg is taking cases for a new class action lawsuit. We plan on filing it on behalf of people affected by the chemical explosion that happened outside of Atlanta in late September
If you lived in the area impacted by the BioLab fire — and have suffered any negative effects — consider taking legal action. You deserve to obtain compensation for the harm BioLab’s negligence has caused you.
“It is hard to image what people in Georgia are going through right now. Suddenly, poisonous gases and chemical fumes invaded their lives and forced residents to evacuate or shelter in place,” says James Bilsborrow, a partner at W&L and co-chair of our firm’s Environmental, Toxic Tort, & Consumer Protection practice group.
“In addition to affecting their health — now and maybe in the future — toxins have affected properties and residents’ ability to live without interference in their homes. They have been forced to evacuate, and nobody is helping them pay for those expenses. Their future is so uncertain, right now,” Mr. Bilsborrow emphasizes.
BioLab Chemical Fire Send Smoke Into Air
People in Conyers, Georgia woke up to an environmental disaster. A chemical fire broke out on the roof of a local BioLab plant on Sunday, September 29, 2024. It spewed thick dark plumes of smoke, releasing the strong odor of chlorine throughout the greater Atlanta area.
Tens of thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses or ordered to shelter-in-place. The fire broke out at the plant around 5 a.m. Sunday morning, when a sprinkler head malfunctioned. (1)
Not the First BioLab Accident
BioLab, a swimming pool and spa treatment products manufacturer, has been the site “of an industrial accident for the third time in the last two decades,” according to one news source. (2)
BioLab had similar incidents in Conyers in 2004 and 2020. This leads some residents to claim any company exhibiting this “pattern of negligence shows they have little regard for safety precautions.” (3)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported a BioLab incident in 2016. Trichlorisocyanuric acid was left in the company’s waste storage site in 3.5-gallon buckets and it then began to smoke. (4)
Chemical Exposure Affects Air Quality
Chemicals from the BioLab fire burned for several days. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other environmental officials have been monitoring air quality So far, they have detected emissions of chlorine and bromine, both of which are toxic. (5)
According to a Georgia Tech professor, chlorine particles in the air over Decatur increased 1,400 times more than normal, while bromine particles increased by 170 times as of Monday, September 30, 2024. (6)
Areas Impacted by Fire
Meanwhile, the fire not only impacted the city of Conyers, but also much of Rockdale County. Areas affected include:
- Innsbrook West.
- Rosebud.
- Lenora.
- Summer Place.
- Laurel Creek.
- Meadow Hills.
- Ashley Grove.
- Almon.
- Abide Awhile.
- Slades Mill.
Also affected were:
- West Forest.
- Porterdale.
- Covington.
- Oxford.
- Collinsville.
- Lithonia.
- Woodstream.
- Redan.
- Arbor Ridge.
- Sheffield Woods.
- Snapfinger.
Symptoms of Hazardous Chemical Exposure
If you live in one of these areas, you may have been exposed to toxic chemicals — including chlorine and bromine. It is also possible there were other, as yet unknown, hazardous chemicals released in the fire.
You need to monitor your health for any symptoms of adverse health effects. Harmful chemical exposure can cause these symptoms: (7)
- Blurred vision.
- Burning eyes, nose, throat, chest, and skin.
- Diarrhea.
- Headaches.
- Stomachaches.
- Sweating.
- Tearing eyes.
More serious harmful chemical exposure can also cause:
- Death.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Convulsions.
- Coughing.
- Wheezing.
- Faint feeling.
- Sudden collapse.
- Weakness.
If you suffer any of these symptoms seek medical attention immediately.
The Impact of the BioLab Fire on Residents
You do not have to suffer acute health effects to be adversely impacted by the BioLab fire. The fire could have other long-lasting effects on you:
- Mental and psychological trauma.
- Financial losses.
- The nuisance of having to evacuate or shelter-in-place, and causing your daily life to be disrupted.
- Environmental contamination leading to diminished property values.
W&L Can Help Hold BioLab Responsible for Negligence
BioLab’s history of similar incidents indicates the company failed to exercise due care in preventing fires or protecting the environment and local residents. It can be held legally responsible for the damage and harm it has caused.
W&L has a long and successful record of standing up to large corporate environmental offenders, like BioLab. When companies are recklessly negligent, we hold them accountable. We work to get you the financial compensation you deserve.
Our record of success includes the $600 million settlement of the Norfolk Southern train derailment case in East Palestine, Ohio. Residents there suffered serious health effects from chemical exposure after a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in their community. Not only that, but the environmental damage meant years of cleanup and recovery time.
Consequences of environmental catastrophes are long-term, and victims should not have to face it alone. Call us at (833) 977-3437 or fill out the form on this page. Our lawyers take up the fight on your behalf, to get you the optimum compensation the law allows.
