Our Experienced Attorneys Have Collected Over $100 Million for Children Who Were Lead Poisoned

Childhood exposure to lead is a national crisis with devastating results. Inhaling or ingesting lead can cause young children to suffer serious brain damage, resulting in acute learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, and diminished IQ scores. Lead poisoned children frequently struggle to progress through school, are more likely to repeat at least one grade, and are less likely to graduate from high school or attend college. The effects of lead poisoning are drastic, permanent, and particularly severe in children exposed at very young ages.

In Cleveland, the lead crisis has reached catastrophic proportions. The Cuyahoga County Board of Health reported that 14.2% of children under the age of six who were tested in 2014 had blood levels elevated above 5 micrograms per deciliter. That's over 1,700 officially confirmed cases of child lead poisoning in just one year, and the total number of afflicted children is certainly much higher. After all, not all children are tested (by one estimate, roughly 2/3 of Cleveland children at risk for lead poisoning go unscreened), and we frequently see neurotoxic effects in children with blood levels well below the 5 microgram per deciliter benchmark. In fact, the CDC maintains that there is no safe level of lead exposure for young children, and researchers at Ohio State University have estimated that rates of childhood lead poisoning may be as high as 50% in some Cleveland neighborhoods.

Lead-based paint was common before 1978 and is a persistent source of contamination in older homes and apartments. Lead can also contaminate dust and soil, or leach into tap water when lead plumbing corrodes. The City of Cleveland has its own lead hazard control ordinance - Chapter 240 in the Code of Ordinances - which incorporates State and Federal rules, establishes a lead hazard disclosure requirement, and declares lead hazards a public nuisance.

Levy Konigsberg specializes in advocating for children who have been harmed by exposure to lead. We understand the significant and unique harm suffered by victims of lead poisoning and have used our expertise to recover over $100 million for lead poisoned children across the country. If you wish to consult with one of our attorneys, please contact us at 1-866-516-0823 or by filling out the form on this website.