LEAD POISONING & EXPOSURE IN CHILDREN
LEAD POISONING OVERVIEW:

Lead poisoning can affect virtually every system in the human body. Doctors have determined that lead can be especially harmful to young children and fetuses. Lead is very dangerous at all stages of a child's development, because during the developmental period the human brain is much more susceptible to injury from chemicals and poisons.

Lead poisoning has been associated with loss of IQ points and intellect, learning disabilities, academic failure, attention problems (ADHD and ADD), hyperactive behavior, school failure, and antisocial or criminal behavior.

Lead poisoning in children occurs when they are exposed to lead when they ingest chips of lead-based paint or swallow or breath lead contaminated dust.  74% of privately owned housing units in the United States built before 1980 contain lead-based paint. The United States Congress passed laws during 1978 outlawing the use of lead in paint. However, the law only banned the use of lead in paint sold after that time period

Lead Poisoning and exposure lawsuits are often brought by lawyers on behalf of children who have sustained lead poisoning from lead paint. The lawsuit filed by the lawyer seeks an award, settlement, verdict, judgment or some other form of recovery for money damages. A parent or other adult responsible for the child may retain a lawyer to represent the child in filing a law suit to recover for the child's injuries and also to recover for the medical and rehabilitative expenses incurred by the parent.

Many of these cases filed by lawyers are brought against landlords or contractors. The lawyer representing the victim who files the lawsuit alleges that the defendant failed to follow the local housing, construction or abatement laws. Because children exposed to lead paint may suffer mild to moderate brain damage, it is the responsibility of the attorney representing these children who files the lawsuit to see that they are compensated by those responsible for the poisoning.