The Environmental Torts Litigation Section, Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice defends the United States in complex, high stakes civil
litigation in federal courts nationwide. Its attorneys directly handle all aspects of wrongful death, personal injury, and property damage cases
that often involve hundreds, even thousands, of plaintiffs. The cases typically stem from alleged exposure to environmental contaminants, such
as biological agents, chemicals, and other substances. They also involve complex issues of causation, novel issues of federal and state law, and
numerous expert witnesses. Given its unique expertise, the section has primary litigation responsibility for all suits brought against the United
States under the Federal Tort Claims Act where the alleged injuries/damages are attributed to some form of an environmental contaminant.
Many of the section's cases are litigated as mass torts or multidistrict litigation matters. Mass tort cases being litigated by the section relate to:
alleged damage to water systems and personal injury claims due to the military's use of per-fluorinated compounds in firefighting; personal
injury claims stemming from EPA's oversight of state and local entities involved in the Flint water crisis; personal injury claims related to a fuel
spill at a Navy refueling facility in Hawaii; personal injury claims related to alleged groundwater contamination at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina;
and, damages from alleged contamination and remediation at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Handling complex jurisdictional questions,
devising creative case-management solutions, and analyzing overlapping issues of history, law, and science are often the norm. At capacity, the
section is comprised of approximately forty-five attorneys and ten members of support staff.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
Starting at $117,962 Per Year (GS 13-15)