Case Study: Expert Analysis for Litigation

The Sullivan Environmental team has three meteorologists with experience in providing expert testimony.  

Much of this work involves compiling representative emissions data and other model inputs and running dispersion models.  These models evaluate exposures to air pollutants, ranging from toxic air pollutants to heavy metals.  These models and cases also involve odor-causing emissions.  

The Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA) presented a legal case study at its annual meeting in Chicago (June 2013).   

AWMA had a unique session where they invited the opposing attorneys on an air quality litigation matter to discuss the matter and invited David Sullivan, the plaintiff’s expert on the case, to describe a case involving a secondary lead smelter in the Detroit, Michigan, area.  The facility operated from the early 1970s into the 1990s. 

There were emissions data for the stacks, but no data was inventoried for the fugitive emission rates. Our firm offers real-world experts with experience testifying in court. Sullivan Environmental is an expert firm—we don’t have junior staff members who work on projects; we do our projects ourselves.  

EPA had performed some modeling for this facility. We started there and then incrementally refined the modeling, adding background contributions and refining various model inputs.  The competing experts significantly disagreed regarding the magnitude of the fugitive emissions.  

Expert air analysis for litigation requires highly experienced meteorological and air quality expertise.  Sullivan Environmental has three experts with court experience and can support our clients’ air quality consulting needs nationwide.