Louise M. Roselle and Jean M. Geoppinger of Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley Receive 2009 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award
Posted on: Wednesday, 5 August 2009, 14:31 CDT
CINCINNATI, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Louise M. Roselle and Jean M. Geoppinger of Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley, a Cincinnati law firm, have received the prestigious 2009 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the Public Justice Foundation for their work on the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant Litigation.
Roselle, Geoppinger and their co-counsel represented a class of 13,000 property owners near Rocky Flats, Colorado in a case against defendants Rockwell International Corporation and Dow Chemical Corporation. The lawsuit began in 1990. After a trial that began in September 2005 and lasted over four months, the jury ruled in favor of Roselle and Geoppinger's clients. The damages, consisting of compensatory damages for diminished property values, punitive damages and prejudgment interest, approach $1 billion. This was the first case in which punitive damages were imposed on a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear weapons contractor.
"This case reflects an epic fight for justice by the neighbors of the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant," Roselle said. Geoppinger added: "The jury verdict will stand out as an important reminder to the DOE and its contractors that they cannot disregard their environmental responsibilities to their neighbors, no matter how important their work might be."
The plaintiffs' attorneys overcame numerous obstacles. They reviewed millions of classified documents scattered around the country, and fended off numerous motions aggressively challenging the plaintiffs' case. Over sixteen years, the case generated 14 published district court opinions, and consumed the attention of three different federal district judges.
Stanley Chesley of Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley expressed admiration for Roselle and Geoppinger, who "spearheaded our firm's efforts to tenaciously litigate this case, resulting in the largest verdict ever against a government nuclear weapons facility."
CONTACT: Stanley M. Chesley Louise M. Roselle (513) 621-0267SOURCE Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley Co. LPA
Source: PR Newswire
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