Over 40 years ago in 1978, New York City banned the use of lead-based paint in residential buildings. Shockingly, more than 111,500 lead-based paint violations were issued in the city between January 2018 and March 2023, a little less than a half-century after the prohibition of lead-based paint in residential buildings and 40 years after the paint was taken off the market.
Of all the lead cases heard in New York courts, 45 percent were in the Bronx. That amounts to 73 violations per 1,000 residential units. Brooklyn comes in second, with 38 violations per 1,000 residential units.
If you or your child was exposed to lead-based paint and suffered from high blood lead levels, contact our attorneys at Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP.
Meet Our Skilled Attorney, Thomas P. GiuffraOver his 24-year career, Tom’s innovative approach, thorough preparation, and trial advocacy skills have led to 20 verdicts and numerous settlements in excess of one million dollars on behalf of his clients, including a recent landmark verdict in a lead paint case for $58 million.
Additionally, Tom has secured a $21 million verdict for three children who suffered brain damage as a result of lead poisoning and an $11 million verdict for another child in New York. Learn more about Thomas P. Giuffra
Our client-first approach and fierce advocacy bolster our reputation as New York’s top-rated personal injury law firm. We continue to secure the maximum compensation for lead paint poisoning victims year after year. Some recent landmark cases include:
In a recent case, we represented public housing tenant, Tiesha Jones, whose daughter tested positive for lead poisoning after exposure to lead paint in her NYCHA apartment in the Bronx. She experienced severe health issues, including cognitive and physical disabilities. We brought the case to court.
After a two-week trial, a jury of three women and three men ruled in favor of Jones. They found that NYCHA was negligent in failing to inspect the apartment for lead paint hazards and awarded the tenant $58 million in damages. This groundbreaking verdict exemplifies how New York City residents can fight back against NYCHA’s failure to maintain safe housing standards. Read the article on law.com.
Our firm also obtained an $11 million verdict for a lead paint exposure case in New York against a private landlord. The tenant, Lameek James, alleged that he had been exposed to toxic levels of lead paint due to their landlord’s failure to maintain and inspect the property.
James experienced learning disabilities and repeated several grades until eventually dropping out of school at 17. We proved that his landlord had failed to inspect and maintain the property, exposing him to toxic levels of lead paint.
After deliberating for hours, the jury announced in favor of the plaintiff. They deemed H.P. Greenfield responsible for James’ damages and was awarded:
This $11 million verdict proves private landlords can and must be held responsible for their negligence.
When victims of lead paint poisoning reach out to us, we don’t take that lightly. We aim to maximize settlements to secure justice for our clients. Find more of our case results here.
Other recent lead paint verdicts include:
Contact us online or call (212) 684-1880 to speak with our experienced legal team today.
Lead-based paint was banned from housing by the federal government in 1978, therefore many houses and apartments built before 1978 have problems with lead from paint chips and dust. Several Local Laws in New York have been passed to address the ongoing health hazard.
Serious health hazards can arise from this toxin, and children are particularly at risk. Crawling babies and children at play may put their hands and other objects in their mouths, greatly heightening their chances of lead poisoning.
Children with high levels of lead in their bodies can result in poor health as they grow older due to damage to their brains and nervous system.
If the lead poisoning is not detected early enough, the damage can lead to:
Adults also suffer from the harm of lead exposure. They are at risk for damage to their:
Typically the human body can eliminate trace amounts of lead through urine, bowel movements, and even sweat. However, when the body is exposed to more lead than it can get rid of, the lead becomes stored in the blood, organs, bones, and teeth – leading to lead poisoning.
The Blood Lead Level, known as BLL, is measured in micrograms per deciliter. Any amount of BBL greater than 10 is of concern to doctors. BLLs above 15 require immediate medical attention, especially in infants and children whose bodies are still developing.
High blood lead levels of 30+ have damaging health effects:
Unfortunately, noticeable symptoms may not be present until blood lead levels are high enough to cause serious damage to body systems.
Contact us online or call (212) 684-1880 to speak with an experienced New York lead paint injury lawyer.
Recent legislation by NYC Housing Development and Preservation (HPD) made changes to regulations regarding lead-based paint testing, recordkeeping, and audits.
By law, property sellers and landlords must disclose known lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards to buyers or renters of housing constructed prior to 1978.
In 2023, the New York City Council enacted a bill that “requires the lead-based paint abatement activities currently required upon turnover, including the removal of lead-based paint on friction surfaces on doors and windows, to be completed in all applicable dwelling units where a child under the age of six resides, by July 1, 2027. If an owner fails to perform this work, they are subject to a Class C violation and are required to produce appropriate records for the immediately previous year. “
Building owners must conduct certified lead paint testing in all pre-1960 residential buildings, including apartments and common areas, by August 2025. Those dwelling units home to a child under age six require testing within one year of the family’s move-in date.
By August 2025, the testing must include X-ray fluorescence (XRF) inspections. All inspections are conducted by EPA-certified inspectors or risk assessors. These third parties are independent of the building owner or any company hired for lead remediation. Records must be kept for at least ten years.
For more information about local laws, please see our page NY Lead Paint Laws.
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has a long track record of negligence regarding lead paint. Although more than 5,000 public housing apartments overseen by the NYCHA were pronounced “lead-free” decades ago, that remains inaccurate today. Many of these apartments still contain lead paint, and NYCHA falsified information regarding lead to federal agencies.
In 2018, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney announced a settlement with NYCHA and the city that involved the appointment of a federal monitor to oversee the “fundamental reform” of NYCHA. New York City had to pay $1.2 billion over the next five years. As per a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, “For years, NYCHA has failed to comply with key HUD and EPA lead paint safety regulations, including by failing to inspect apartments for lead paint hazards and failing to remediate peeling lead paint. NYCHA also fails to ensure that its workers use lead-safe work practices.”
Residents can file an initial report regarding lead paint with NYCHA through its Customer Contact Center. If the situation is not resolved promptly, notify a lead paint poisoning lawyer with a strong track record of pursuing claims against NYCHA, especially if young children reside in the dwelling.
You can learn more about filing a lawsuit against NYCHA for lead paint poisoning here.
New York City landlords are required to keep their premises in a safe condition. Report any potential lead paint violations to the building owner. If the issue is not addressed or the work is not done safely, call 311. If there is still no remedy, contact a lead paint poisoning lawyer to protect your rights.
A few conditions must exist to bring a lead poisoning case against another party. First, the owner had to have been aware of the presence of lead. Next, they must be legally obligated to notify anyone who might come into contact with lead, and they must take the proper steps to remove lead products from the location.
If they don’t remediate the site and one’s blood lead level test comes back positive for lead, the owner may be considered negligent, and a case may be pursued.
A New York premises liability lawyers can assist with gathering inspection reports, lead tests, medical records, and other evidence that tells the story of how and why toxic exposure occurred.
Make sure your dwelling was built between 1960 and 1978. This information is available through public records. If there is peeling or damaged paint in the home, photograph this evidence prior to remediation. However, do not touch or disturb these paint particles for your own safety and that of your family.
Additionally, determining the source of the lead poisoning is critical. Before filing a lead paint poisoning lawsuit, the victim must obtain a blood level lead test validating lead poisoning. After receiving such validation, it is time to consult a lead paint poisoning lawyer.
Once the lead poisoning is validated, your attorney will conduct a thorough investigation. They also review the latest federal and New York lead paint laws to see which best pertains to your case. For instance, if your landlord or home seller did not provide you with an EPA-approved pamphlet addressing lead poisoning, the landlord or seller may be held negligent. Other liable parties may include local governments, product manufacturers, contractors, and sub-contractors.
Lead poisoning is preventable. We know the risks of toxic lead exposure.
In New York, there are strict guidelines banning the use of lead paint in new construction, and for testing and remediating preexisting lead paint. Individuals or agencies who fail to comply and protect the public should be held accountable under the law.
If our legal team finds your exposure to lead paint was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have grounds to bring a claim for compensation. Part of that process involves figuring out who is liable for your lead exposure so that you can take legal action against them.
A few conditions must exist to bring a lead poisoning case against another party. First, they had to have been aware of the presence of lead. Next, they must be legally obligated to notify anyone who might come into contact with lead, and they must take the proper steps to remove lead-containing products from the location.
If they don’t remediate the site and someone does get sick, they may be considered negligent. Our job as your legal team is to investigate your situation and determine how you or your loved one was exposed, and whose negligence allowed it to happen.
To do this, your New York premises liability lawyers gather inspection reports, lead tests, medical records, and other evidence that tells the story of how and why toxic exposure occurred.
Get a free case review by contacting our experienced lead paint attorneys.
As with any personal injury lawsuit, lead paint poisoning cases must comply with the statute of limitations. In New York, because the effects of lead exposure may not be evident immediately, the statute of limitations is three years from the date the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. When a case involves minors, the three-year window does not begin until the victim’s 18th birthday.
Even though there are strict deadlines for filing lead paint claims, at Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP, we build aggressive cases against negligent landlords, owners of buildings in which lead paint is present and other liable parties who expose their tenants to hazardous materials.
If we find your lead poisoning and all of the physical, emotional, and financial losses you’ve experienced could and should have been prevented, we will pursue a legal claim for compensation. A lead poisoning settlement or verdict should reflect all of the ways your illness has impacted your life.
Compensation for toxic lead exposure may include:
Keep in mind that every client’s experience is unique, and compensation varies from case to case. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your individual situation.
We are determined to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement based on your condition, your long-term prognosis, and all the costs associated with your medical care. Many cases settle before going to trial.
However, if we do go to court, we work tirelessly to build a compelling case and fight for you every step of the way. We gather evidence, contact expert witnesses, and take the necessary steps to prove negligence and show why you deserve compensation for your losses.
Our track record of impressive case results—including multi-million-dollar verdicts for past lead-based paint poisoning cases — confirms we have the skills, experience, and legal know-how to lead your case to a good outcome.
Submit an online inquiry or call to speak with a NY lead poisoning lawyer at Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP today. Our New York injury attorneys are proud to represent clients in and around New York City, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, and all of New York State.
Contact us online or call (212) 684-1880 to speak with an experienced New York lead poisoning injury lawyer.
We fight tirelessly to deliver results and we are not afraid to go to trial.
We are leaders and educators in legal issues involving personal injury, medical malpractice, and product liability.
We have the experience to handle your case all while providing individualized attention.
