Former Senator John Edwards Representing 1000s of US Vets Injured in Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

Former U.S. Senator John Edwards, managing partner at Edwards Kirby, is currently representing thousands of U.S. sailors who were exposed to radiation while taking part in disaster relief efforts after a 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami struck Japan in 2011. These natural disasters triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, and as many as 75,000 Americans may have been affected. This includes sailors aboard the U.S.S. Ronald Regan who were participating in Operation Tomodachi to provide relief efforts to those in need.

The class action has been filed in the District Court in San Diego, California, against Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings Inc. (TEPCO) and other defendants, including Toshiba Corp, Hitachi, General Electric, and EBASCO. The plaintiffs are led by Lindsay R. Cooper and other members of the U.S. Navy and their dependents, who have been diagnosed with serious and life-threatening conditions such as brain tumors, leukemia, thyroid cancer, and blindness. Former Senator Edwards is working with California-based attorneys Charles Bonner, Cabral Bonner, and Paul Garner on this case.

In December of 2016, the U.S. Government initially submitted a brief stating that it believed sailors affected by the Fukushima disaster should be able to litigate their case here in the United States. This brief was submitted after meeting with attorneys from both sides of the case. TEPCO and the Japanese government, however, filed an appeal requesting the litigation to take place in Japan.

On June 22, 2017, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of U.S. sailors, allowing them to continue their suit on American soil.

In Japan, also in June of 2017, three former TEPCO executives were charged with contributing to deaths and injuries that were caused by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. After investigating the meltdown at the Fukushima plant, the Japanese government found that TEPCO was grossly negligent.

If you are a U.S. sailor or family member who has been affected by exposure to radiation during Operation Tomodachi, or in other relief efforts administered to Japan in the Fukushima area after the 2011 tsunami, feel free to reach out to our firm. Our Raleigh personal injury attorneys are highly skilled and are committed to protecting your interests and rights. You can reach us at (919) 335-7005.