Wyoming is a village on the Wood River in southern Rhode Island, primarily in the town of Richmond, but extending north across the river (which defines the town line) into the town of Hopkinton. Wyoming is a post office location, assigned zip code 02898. The Wyoming Village Historic District is a historic district roughly bounded by Rhode Island Routes 138 and 3, Old Nooseneck Hill Road, Bridge and Prospect Streets in Richmond. The district features Greek Revival, late-Victorian and Federal architecture and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The historic district covers properties in both the towns of Richmond and Hopkinton, with a total area of 570 acres. The Hillsdale Historic and Archeological District in Richmond also is identified as being in the vicinity of Wyoming. The village was the site of industrial activity early in its history due to the ready availability of water power from the river. Brand’s Iron Works already existed on the Hopkinton side of the river as of 1787. A textile mill known as Brothers Cotton Mill was established on the Richmond side of Wyoming in 1814.

What is toxic tort law?

Toxic Tort cases involve people who have been injured through exposure to dangerous pharmaceuticals or chemical substances in the environment, on the job, or in consumer products -- including carcinogenic agents, lead, benzene, silica, harmful solvents, hazardous waste, and pesticides to name a few.

Most toxic tort cases have arisen either from exposure to pharmaceutical drugs or occupational exposures. Most pharmaceutical toxic injury cases are mass tort cases, because drugs are consumed by thousands of people, many of whom become ill from a toxic drug. There have also been many occupational toxic tort cases, because industrial and other workers are often chronically exposed to toxic chemicals - more so than consumers and residents. Most of the law in this area arises from asbestos exposure, but thousands of toxic chemicals are used in industry and workers in these areas can experience a variety of toxic injuries. Unlike the general population, which is exposed to trace amounts of thousands of different chemicals in the environment, industrial workers are regularly exposed to much higher levels of chemicals and therefore have a greater risk of developing disease from particular chemical exposures than the general population. The home has recently become the subject of toxic tort litigation, mostly due to mold contamination, but also due to construction materials such as formaldehyde-treated wood and carpet. Toxic tort cases also arise when people are exposed to consumer products such as pesticides and suffer injury. Lastly, people can also be injured from environmental toxins in the air or in drinking water.

Answers to toxic tort law issues in Rhode Island

In certain kinds of cases, lawyers charge what is called a contingency fee. Instead of billing by the hour, the...

Because of the health problems caused by lead poisoning, the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction...

Property owners may be liable for tenant health problems caused by exposure to environmental hazards, such as...

In general, mass tort cases involve a large number of individual claimants with claims associated with a single...