Casmalia is an unincorporated town in Santa Barbara County, California located just outside the borders of Vandenberg Air Force Base about 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Santa Maria. Approximately 200 people live in and near Casmalia. The ZIP Code is 93429, and the community is inside area code 805. The town was the site of a hazardous waste landfill that began operating in 1973 and accepted toxic chemicals like PCBs, motor oil, and pesticides. In 1989, the facility was closed down following a number of permit violations. In 1992, it was taken over by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which began the process of cleaning up and administering the site. The soil and groundwater at the site were found to be significantly contaminated and the former dump became a Superfund site. During its operation, 4.5 billion pounds of hazardous waste from up to 10,000 individuals, businesses and government agencies were buried at the site.
What is personal injury law?
Personal injury includes injuries to the body, mind or emotions, as opposed to an injury to property. If the negligence of another person can be proved, the person who is injured may be entitled to monetary compensation from that person who was negligent. Attorneys often represent clients on a contingency basis, in which the attorneys fee is a percentage of the compensation the plaintiff receives, payable when the case is resolved. Cases involving people who have suffered an injury for which someone else (an individual or business) may be legally liable -- may include injuries caused by car accidents, medical malpractice, dog bites, slip and fall incidents, and emotional distress.