The right to enjoy your property and keep it free from unwanted trespassers or other invasions is a bedrock principle in our legal tradition. However, modern life has made this principal increasingly difficult to protect. Our contemporary reality has demonstrated that there is a need to shift our understanding of what it takes to protect one’s property, which has led to the creation of environmental laws and regulations¹ that go beyond laws that simply prohibit others from entering or damaging your land. There are myriad federal and state regulations that concern matters as varied as the disposal of certain materials, emissions from industrial processes, noise pollution, and the use and storage of toxic chemicals.

When these regulations are violated, or when a person or business entity negligently or willfully damages or pollutes the property of another, there are various ways that the law can help the aggrieved party. In Washington State² environmental law cases can be complicated and the issues novel. Because of this, Western Washington residents who believe that they may have a claim should discuss their options with an environmental law attorney as soon as possible. For a phone consultation with one of our lawyers, call Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess today at 206-621-1110 or 253-572-1000.

There are a number of remedies that may be available to individuals whose property has been polluted or otherwise damaged by another person or party. Some of the more common remedies include:

• Injunctions – An injunction is an order from the court requiring a party to engage in or refrain from engaging in a certain course of conduct. For example, a court may bar party from engaging in an activity that is polluting the property of another or to clean up the pollution that it has caused.
• Damages for costs of cleanup or devaluation of property – Another way in which a court could remedy an environmental injury is to award a plaintiff compensation for the costs associated with cleanup or for the loss in value of his or her property.

Contact a Tacoma environmental law lawyer today to schedule a case evaluation

Environmental pollution can have a significant impact on your health, quality of life, ability to use your land, and the value of your property. For this reason, anyone who believes that their property has been damaged by another party’s negligence or violation of environmental regulations should discuss their options with an experienced lawyer. To schedule a consultation with one of our Tacoma environmental law attorneys, call the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess today at 206-621-1110 in Seattle or 253-572-1000 in Tacoma.

References:

¹ https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations
² http://access.wa.gov/