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Paul Hastings

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Recent News and Highlights

Safe Drinking Water Ensured for Washington Residents

When news surfaced in 2004 that many Washington, DC residents were receiving tap water containing dangerously high levels of lead, Paul Hastings undertook to represent a class of DC residents, seeking to assure that Washington’s Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) would take the necessary steps to reduce lead levels in drinking water and, if necessary, to replace lead service pipes. This past summer, Paul Hastings’ lawsuit against WASA was dropped after the utility took adequate steps to improve water quality.

Over the last year, the Paul Hastings team maintained pressure on WASA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), tracking WASA’s efforts (in response to EPA requirements) to change its disinfectant additives along with other steps to reduce lead contamination. In light of the results, which showed a substantial decrease in the lead levels, and the ongoing diligence the EPA and WASA have exhibited to maintaining reduced lead levels, Paul Hastings dismissed the litigation without prejudice. As reported in the July 8 edition of the Washington Post, results are promising so far, with recent drinking water tests showing low lead levels on track to be compliant with EPA regulations.

Paul Hastings was happy to drop the suit without further cost to the city, though individual claims by class members for physical injury will be unaffected. As James Berger noted in the same Post article: “The purpose of the litigation was to improve the drinking water, and we think that’s happened. We don’t see any need to have private litigation that’s going to cost [the city] money. We’d rather spend that money on having them improve the drinking water.”

Chapters Bookstore Finds Pro Bono Representation

Recently Mark Poerio helped make news in the Washington Post with his representation of Chapters (www.chaptersliterary.com), a downtown DC literary bookstore threatened with closure if it was unable to convert to a nonprofit organization. Mark is advising the owners of the 20-year-old literary landmark in a strategy to sell Chapters to a nonprofit foundation which would help support the store’s operating costs. Any profits made by the store would go to funding artistic and literary events in the region. Lisa Brown provided Mark with general assistance on the project, while Kurt Schuermann and Goody Agahi of Orange County provided securities, finance and tax advice. Karol Denniston and Jesse Austin also gave Mark invaluable advice.

PRO BONO CONTACT

Charles Patrizia
202-551-1710
Email

Raquel Bierzwinsky
202-551-1740
Email