Climate Change, Environment, Science and the Law

Gregg M. Goldfarb
  • 5.0 (29)
  • Natural Sciences
  • Weekly

This show presents guests to discuss a range of topics on the most critical issues of our times, including climate change, energy, the environment, science, and the law. Oftentimes, the topics are intertwined making the discussions multi-layered and fascinating. Guests are industry leaders that discuss the issues in a question and answer format almost as if they are in a courtroom. Guests are not prepped prior to the show. As a trial attorney that focuses on environmental, institutional sexual abuse, healthcare and pharmaceutical litigation for several decades, Gregg digs into the guests opinions and points of view with the objective of advancing the issues involved with these critical topics. This is show for you if you find yourself asking these questions. Is climate change real? Is climate Change caused by humans? Is climate change caused by fossil fuels? Should I be worried about climate change? Is renewable energy reliable? How does the Iran conflict or war impact energy? Will the Iran conflict or war cause nations to use more renewable energy? Is renewable energy better for the planet than fossil fuels? Do fossils fuels (oil, gas) warm the planet? How do fossil fuels warm the planet? What is plug in solar? Can I buy a plug in solar? Does my State permit plug in solar? Will plug in solar reduce my electric bill? Can I install plug in solar myself? Why are my electric bills rising? Is the price of gas going to go up or down? What is a heat dome? Are heat domes caused by climate change? Why is Trump stopping wind farns? Why is Trump attacking renewable energy? Is it legal for Trump to pay conpanies not to create wind farms? What is geothermal energy? Is hydrogen a potential source of clean energy? What is clean energy? What is net zero emissions? Does geoengineering work? What is geoengineering? What are the risks or downside to geoengineering? Can solar panels help farmers? Are agrovoltaics good for farmers? How many environmental regulations has Trump rescinded? How many clean energy jobs were lost because of Trump? How much clean energy did we lose because of Trump? What is the Strait of Hormuz? How does the Strait of Hormuz impace the price of gas? What is causing the water shortages in the Colorado River? How is the government dealing with the shortage of water from the Colorado River? Why don't people trust science? Should I be skeptical of science? Should I trust my doctor? Should i trust AI for my medical issues? Are plastics bad for the planet? Does recycling work? Does recycling helo reduce the use of plastic? What is happening to the bee populations? Are bees in trouble? What can be done to help the bee populations? What are monarch butterflies? Are the monarch butterlies in danger? Are pesticides bad for humans? Is glyphosate bad for humans? Why are wildfires so big? Is climate change causing the wildires? Why do we use pesticides? What are herbicides? Are herbicides bad for the planet? Is paraquat dangerous for people? Is roundup dangerous for people? Is rounder toxic? Can roundup cause me to get cancer? Can roundup cause my to get non hodgkins lymphoma? Why are social media companies being sued? What is the update on the roundup litigation? Did Bayer settle the roundup cases? What are the terms of the roundup settlement? What is the update on the Johnson @ Johnson talc cases? What the terms of the settlement of Johnson @ Johnson talc cases? What is the status with the Boy Scout sexual abuse cases? What is the status with the MESH litigation? What is the status with the AFFF litigation? What are PFAs? What are forever chemicals? Are forever chemicals bad for us? Are PFAs bad for us? How can I avoid PFAs in my drinking water? Is Trump doing anything about PFAs? Are microplastics are problem for us or the planet? How do microplastics harm us? Does capital punishment work? Is Trump using firing squads? Is Trump using the electric chair? Are native plants better for your yard? Are non-native plant

  1. 1d ago

    Are Colonoscopies More Dangerous Than We Thought? | Caleb Cunningham

    Have you had a colonoscopy lately and ended up in the hospital afterward? The scope used on you most likely have been used on other patients, and attorney Caleb Cunningham of Levin Papantonio says the instructions for cleaning it fall short. On this episode of Cut to the Chase Network, host Gregg Goldfarb talks with Caleb about how this latest medical device is causing problems such as sepsis and infection, and the lawsuits his firm has filed against Olympus. Caleb compares a scope to a complicated garden hose, with tiny channels where blood, tissue, and bacteria can build up. He explains how these devices can be made safe. Gregg and Caleb are clear on one point: they are not telling anyone to skip a colonoscopy. Talk to your doctor, ask questions, and know the warning signs.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How a reusable scope can carry infection from one patient to the next The symptoms that mean you should get medical care right away What to ask your doctor before your next procedure Why Caleb believes the true size of the problem is unknown About Caleb Cunningham J. Caleb Cunningham is a mass torts attorney at Levin Papantonio in Pensacola, Florida. He is a former prosecutor and is leading his firm's push to raise awareness of contaminated scope infections among patients and fellow attorneys. Contact Caleb Cunningham: Website: https://levinlaw.com   Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Cut to the Chase Network with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week.   This episode is for informational purposes only and is not medical or legal advice. If you feel sick after a procedure, contact a doctor right away.

  2. 5d ago

    Promised 100%, Paid 4.7%: The Boy Scouts Settlement Update | Jason Joy & Curtis Garrison

    When survivors voted on the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy plan, they were told it would pay eligible claims in full. Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal and the plan is final, claimants are receiving roughly 4.7% of their allowed claims, and many are asking how this happened and what comes next. From the third-party releases that shielded more than 300,000 churches, schools, and other chartering organizations, to the insurance companies fighting over interest on nearly $1.6 billion held in escrow, this episode follows the money. Host Gregg is joined by attorney Jason Joy and Curtis Garrison, BSA survivor, advocate, and founder of Speak Out to Stop Child Sexual Abuse, to break it all down. Jason explains why the Supreme Court's Purdue Pharma ruling matters here, what's happening with the non-settling insurers in the Northern District of Texas, and why he's requesting access to the trust's books and records. Curtis shares his own experience as a claimant, the cost of running the Scouting Settlement Trust, and how survivors who are incarcerated or homeless are at risk of missing critical deadlines.   Join Gregg, Jason, and Curtis on Gregg Goldfarb Podcast as they discuss: Why survivors were told the plan was "paid in full" and how payouts landed at 4.7% How third-party releases let local churches, schools, and sponsoring organizations off the hook Why the Purdue Pharma decision didn't change the outcome in the Boy Scouts case The fight over escrow interest, the future claims holdback, and the non-settling insurance companies Concerns about the claims administrator, trust fees, and administrative costs What survivors can do now, from mixed claims to contacting their congressman and senator    Curtis Garrison is a survivor of Boy Scout sexual abuse and the founder of Speak Out to Stop Child Sexual Abuse (SOSCA), a national advocacy organization dedicated to eliminating the legal and cultural barriers that keep survivors from speaking out. He has testified before lawmakers, advocated across multiple states for statute of limitations reform and NDA bans, and continues to work alongside attorneys and fellow survivors to drive systemic accountability. Contact Curtis Garrison — SOSCA: Website: https://soscsa.org/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtisjgarrison/   Jason Joy is the founding attorney at Jason Joy & Associates, where he specializes in representing survivors of clergy, institutional, and sexual abuse across the United States. He has been at the forefront of major abuse litigation, including the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy, and is known for fighting aggressively on behalf of claimants who have been low-balled or overlooked by large settlement processes. Contact Jason Joy & Associates: Website: https://www.jasonjoylaw.com/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-joy-595a3416/   Want more insights on justice, legal accountability, and the cases shaping our world? Subscribe to Gregg Goldfarb Podcast with Greg for new episodes every week.

  3. Oct 24

    Will Your Home Survive Climate Change | Prof Michael Gerrard

    Will climate change force you to leave your home? Columbia Law professor Michael Gerrard explains the five futures facing American cities as extreme heat, flooding, wildfires and soaring insurance costs reshape where we can live. Your house might be worth less than you think, and harder to insure than you'd like. So do you fight to stay, or do you go? And who gets to decide? Michael has spent decades at the intersection of climate and the law. In his new law review article, Five Urban Futures for a Hot Planet, he lays out the options every American city now faces: sprout new cities, grow existing ones, stay and adapt, shrink, or leave. None of them are easy, and every one of them hits your savings, your neighborhood and your community. When Gregg asks whether America is ready for climate change to reshape the places we call home, Michael doesn't hesitate: "The short answer is hell no." Estimates of how many Americans will need to relocate by the end of the century range from 4 million to 100 million. At the low end, existing cities can absorb them. At the high end, we may need to build entirely new ones. They dig into why extreme heat is the deadliest climate threat, why storm sewers built "for your grandfather's storms" can't keep up, what Hoboken got right after Hurricane Sandy, and why New Orleans rebuilt in the same flood zones after Katrina. Michael also explains the trap many homeowners are already in: if your house is at risk, you can't sell it for enough to buy somewhere safer. As he puts it: "A lot of people are just stuck." If you own a home, live near the coast or a forest, or have ever heard someone say "the climate has always been changing," this is the episode to watch.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN The five urban futures (sprout, grow, stay, shrink and leave) and the trade-offs of each How many Americans could be displaced by climate change, and why the estimates vary so widely Why "the climate has always been changing" misses the point about the pace of change Why extreme heat is the most lethal impact of climate change, and how trees help cool cities What homeowners can do now: air conditioning, smoke filters, fire-resistant roofs and flood protection The flood insurance gap most homeowners don't know about until it's too late Why the experts' plan to stop rebuilding parts of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina was rejected Seawalls, beach renourishment and tidal gates: what they solve and what they don't How Hoboken became a model for climate resilience after Hurricane Sandy Why stronger building codes work, and who fights hardest against them Why Detroit, Cleveland, Toledo and other Rust Belt cities could become climate havens Why building brand-new cities in the U.S. is so hard, and where they could go   Michael B. Gerrard is the Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia Law School and the founder and faculty director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. He practiced environmental law at Arnold & Porter for many years, has written 14 books, and received the American Bar Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in Environment, Energy, and Resources Law and Policy in 2024. His upcoming book is Law for a Hot Planet: Legal Tools to Cope With a Dangerously Changing Climate.   Contact / Follow Michael Gerrard: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gerrard-534262131/ Columbia Law School: https://law.columbia.edu/faculty/michael-gerrard Sabin Center for Climate Change Law: https://climate.law.columbia.edu/   Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week. #ClimateChange #ClimateMigration #ClimateResilience

  4. Oct 16

    We Send Them to War. Do We Care for Them When They Come Home? | Jim Maguire & Joanne Frederick

    We send our soldiers to the front lines, but when they come home, does the healthcare system follow through? Jim Maguire and Joanne Frederick of Government Market Strategies explain why veterans and military families are struggling to get care, and how to fix it. Most people don't realize there are two completely separate systems. The Military Health System (TRICARE) covers about 9.5 million active duty members, families, and retirees. The Veterans Health Administration covers about 9 million veterans. Both are stretched thin. When military and VA facilities can't meet the demand, patients are sent out into the community, where they compete with everyone else for limited appointments. That's especially hard in rural areas, where many veterans live. On top of that, reimbursement rates are often lower than what private insurance and even Medicaid pay. Claims get delayed or never paid, so many doctors simply don't want to take these patients. Then there's the paperwork. Joanne estimates that roughly 15,000 pages of law, regulations, and manuals govern these contracts, and "no one really knows what they say." Using AI, she broke those documents down and found that they contradict each other. That project took two weeks, compared with a year and a half for a team of 20 doing it by hand. Jim and Joanne also share Patriot Health, their plan to modernize a TRICARE contract model that has barely changed since the 1990s. It would bring in more providers, more competition, and lower costs for taxpayers, while keeping the force ready for conflicts in the Middle East and beyond. If you're a veteran, a service member, or love someone who is, this episode is for you.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: The difference between the Military Health System (TRICARE) and the VA Why veterans and military families face long waits for care, especially in rural areas How low reimbursement rates and unpaid claims push doctors away Why an "adequate" provider network on paper doesn't mean you can get an appointment How a "game of telephone" from Congress to contract creates a bureaucratic mess How the Iran conflict and long deployments are pulling military doctors away from families at home What Patriot Health is and how it could modernize military healthcare How AI turned an 18-month, 20-person project into two weeks of work How the Oracle health record could follow service members from enlistment through veteran life What to do if you've been denied care: patient advocates, VSOs, and your congressional representative Why veterans juggling VA, Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance need a better system   Jim Maguire is co-founder of Government Market Strategies (GMS). He has spent his career in government contracting and healthcare finance and operations. He has served as CFO of National Government Services and the Indiana Medicaid health plan MDwise, and as chief operating officer of Cerner Government Services, where he led the electronic health record rollout across the Department of Defense and the VA. Joanne Frederick is co-founder of GMS. She has more than 30 years of experience building and growing a consultancy that supports military health, VA care, Medicare, and Medicaid programs. Her first TRICARE contract dates back to 1992. Contact / Follow Jim Maguire & Joanne Frederick: GMS website: https://marketstrategiesonline.com/ Jim Maguire LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmaguireva/ Joanne Frederick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannemfrederick/   Veteran Resources Mentioned in This Episode: VA Patient Advocate Program: https://www.va.gov/health/patientadvocate/ Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): https://www.vfw.org Disabled American Veterans (DAV): https://www.dav.org TRICARE: https://www.tricare.mil Find your congressional representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative   Know a veteran or military family who needs to hear this? Share this episode, and subscribe to Cut to the Chase: Podcast with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week.   Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week.

  5. Oct 9

    Can We Still Fix Climate Change? AI, China, and Renewable Energy | Fred Pearce

    Is there still hope for climate change? Environmental journalist Fred Pearce, author of Despite It All, explains why climate change is solvable, from renewable energy and EVs to AI data centers and China's clean energy boom. Have you given up on the planet? Before you do, hear from someone who has spent 40 years reporting from more than 80 countries, and who has watched the world solve problems that once looked impossible. When Fred started out in the 1980s, the big environmental story was acid rain. Then came lead in petrol, the hole in the ozone layer, and warnings that a "population bomb" would starve billions. Today we barely talk about any of them, because we fixed them. So can we do the same with climate change? Gregg plays devil's advocate and throws the hardest questions at him. AI data centers are driving up energy demand. China is still building coal plants. Corporations and governments are quietly walking back their net-zero pledges. And climate change has become deeply politicized. Fred doesn't sugarcoat it: "You should be worried for sure." But he makes a compelling case for optimism. Solar and wind are now cheaper than coal. China has become the world's clean energy powerhouse. The conflict in Iran is pushing countries toward homegrown renewable power. And nature has an extraordinary ability to bounce back. As Fred puts it: "Hope drives ambition." If climate news leaves you feeling anxious or hopeless, this is the episode to watch.   What you'll learn: How the world solved acid rain, the ozone hole, and leaded petrol, and what that teaches us about climate change Whether AI data centers will derail climate progress, and how renewable energy can power them How China went from climate villain to the global leader in solar power, batteries, and electric vehicles Why corporations may be easier to convince than governments, and why renewables now win on cost How the conflict in Iran and energy security are accelerating the shift to clean energy Fred's honest take on nuclear power, geothermal, and Trump's energy policy Geoengineering and carbon removal: should we be ready to pull CO2 out of the sky? What a Bolsonaro comeback could mean for Amazon deforestation Why letting forests regrow naturally often beats planting trees What Fred got wrong about caribou hunters in Alaska, and why the herd doubled How the "population bomb" was defused without forced policies   TIME STAMPS: 0:00 – Is There Still Hope for Climate Change? 1:10 – We Fixed Acid Rain and the Ozone Hole 3:59 – Will AI Data Centers Wreck It All? 6:16 – What About China? 10:34 – Why Companies Are Ditching Net Zero 12:13 – Iran, Oil, and Russia's EV Boom 15:11 – Is Trump Getting Anything Right? 17:56 – Can We Suck CO2 Out of the Sky? 20:40 – Bolsonaro and the Amazon 27:20 – What Fred Got Wrong 29:20 – How the Population Bomb Was Defused 33:22 – Nature's Surprise Comeback     Fred Pearce is a London-based environmental journalist who has covered climate change, water, biodiversity, and global development for more than 40 years, reporting from more than 80 countries. He is the author of 14 books, including The New Wild and Despite It All (Granta, 2026), his case for climate optimism.   Contact / Follow Fred Pearce: Live Science: https://www.livescience.com/author/fred-pearce Climate Home News: https://www.climatechangenews.com/author/fred-pearce/ The Breakthrough Institute: https://thebreakthrough.org/people/fred-pearce Despite It All (Blackwell's): https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781803513638 Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week. #ClimateChange #RenewableEnergy #ClimateHope

  6. Sep 28

    Can Big Oil Be Sued for Climate Change? The Suncor Case Explained | Daniel Farber

    Miami is raising its seawalls. Cities across the country are doing the same. The question now in front of the Supreme Court is whether the oil companies can be made to help pay for it. UC Berkeley law professor Daniel Farber joins Gregg to unpack Suncor Energy v. Boulder County. In this case, local governments are seeking compensation from oil companies for climate damage and for allegedly misleading the public about what their own scientists knew. The oil companies' defense is that climate change is a federal issue under the Clean Air Act, so state courts can't hear these cases. Here's the catch. The Trump EPA has repealed the endangerment finding, the legal foundation that lets the federal government regulate greenhouse gases. Pull that out, Farber explains, and "the whole house of cards falls down." The move meant to help Big Oil may end up weakening its best legal defense.   The case at a glance: Boulder and Boulder County sued Suncor and ExxonMobil in 2018 over climate costs like wildfires, floods, and heat waves. The Colorado Supreme Court let the case proceed in 2025. The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on October 5, 2026. The ruling could decide the fate of dozens of similar lawsuits across the country.   What you'll learn: What the Suncor case is about, and why it's the poster child for a second wave of climate litigation The "tobacco playbook" allegations: what oil companies are accused of misrepresenting How preemption works, and why oil companies say states can't sue at all What the endangerment finding is, and why repealing it could backfire on the industry Why cities and states, not individuals, are bringing these cases so far Why the Supreme Court might sidestep the big questions entirely How attribution science ties emissions to specific companies Whether the Paris Accord is working without the U.S.   Timestamps: 0:00 – Cold open 0:13 – The feds step back from climate regulation 0:47 – Meet Professor Daniel Farber 1:24 – What the Suncor case is all about 3:18 – Why can't states sue Big Oil? The preemption argument 5:22 – The misrepresentation claims and the tobacco playbook 6:34 – The endangerment finding, explained 8:44 – How the endangerment finding connects to state lawsuits 12:18 – Rock and a hard place: who's actually suing 15:00 – Can the Supreme Court thread the needle? 17:01 – Proving it: Exxon vs. Chevron vs. everyone else 20:21 – Is the Paris Accord still alive? 22:08 – Wrap-up and a promise to return after the Suncor decision Daniel Farber is the Sho Sato Professor of Law at UC Berkeley and faculty director of the Berkeley Center for Law, Energy & the Environment. He has written more than 20 books on climate law, disaster law, environmental regulation, cost-benefit analysis, and executive authority.    Contact / Follow Daniel Farber: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-farber-6801729 Berkeley Law: https://www.law.berkeley.edu Berkeley Center for Law, Energy & the Environment: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/research/clee/ Legal Planet blog: https://legal-planet.org   Sources: Legal Planet: https://legal-planet.org/2026/09/08/legal-planet-guide-to-suncor-energy-v-county-commissioners-of-boulder-county/ SCOTUSblog: https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/suncor-energy-inc-v-county-commissioners-of-boulder-county/ E&E News: https://www.eenews.net/articles/epa-climate-rollback-could-thwart-big-oils-next-supreme-court-fight/ E&E News: https://www.eenews.net/articles/epa-endangerment-repeal-could-expose-industry-to-legal-blowback/ The American Prospect: https://prospect.org/2026/03/04/environmental-protection-agency-climate-endangerment-finding-repeal-trump-zeldin-supreme-court/ Smith Anderson: https://www.smithlaw.com/newsroom/publications/Supreme-Court-Takes-Up-Climate-Tort-Case-Amid-EPA-Endangerment-Rollback Beveridge & Diamond: https://www.bdlaw.com/publications/climate-change-and-state-authority-potential-broad-implications-of-the-supreme-courts-grant-of-certiorari-in-suncor-energy-inc-v-commissioners-of-boulder-county/ The Regulatory Review: https://www.theregreview.org/2026/04/20/reiter-ending-epas-endangerment-finding-wont-end-climate-change-regulation/ LegalClarity: https://legalclarity.org/epa-sued-over-endangerment-finding-repeal-last-week/ Inside Climate News: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/23082026/suncor-v-boulder-supreme-court-climate-case/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suncor_Energy_(U.S.A.)_Inc._v._County_Commissioners_of_Boulder_County Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week.

  7. Sep 23

    Mass Tort Update 2026: Camp Lejeune, PFAS, NEC Baby Formula & Depo-Provera | Steve Smith Pt. 2

    If you or a family member has a case involving Camp Lejeune, PFAS, NEC, or Depo-Provera, you've probably seen headlines about deadlines and settlements and wondered where your claim actually stands. In Part 2 of this conversation on Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb, host Gregg Goldfarb sits down again with Steven Smith, Vice President of Broughton Partners, to unpack four more mass tort campaigns that are all reaching critical moments. Smith explains why Camp Lejeune finally has real momentum, now that a federal judge has given plaintiffs' leadership until the end of October to reach a deal with the DOJ or risk being replaced. He also clarifies why no new Camp Lejeune claims can be filed, since the window Congress opened has now closed. On PFAS, he walks through how firefighting foam (AFFF) seeps into soil and drinking water, why 131,000 cases were filed when only 60,000 to 70,000 were expected, and how an upcoming Daubert hearing on two additional injuries could shift negotiating leverage before a possible global resolution. On NEC, Smith explains how two defendants agreed to pay just under $1 billion, why state court cases have succeeded where the federal MDL has not, and why the details of case values are still unknown. And on Depo-Provera, he breaks down the science linking the birth control shot to brain tumors called meningiomas, with more than a 5x increased risk, and shares his expectation of average case values between $150,000 and $200,000 for qualifying claims. Throughout, Smith and Goldfarb stress that deadlines, qualifications, and venue all matter, and that claimants should talk to their own firm about where their specific case stands.   What You'll Learn Why a federal judge's October deadline could force a Camp Lejeune resolution Why new Camp Lejeune claims can no longer be filed How firefighting foam contaminates drinking water across the country Why 131,000 PFAS cases were filed, and how that number has been cleaned up What a Daubert hearing is, and how it could change PFAS negotiations How to find out if your water is contaminated with PFAS Why NEC cases in state court have outperformed the federal MDL What the science shows about Depo-Provera and brain tumors What Depo-Provera claimants might expect, and when   Time Stamps 0:00 - Intro 0:15 - Camp Lejune case updates 4:17 - PFAS Water Contamination Ligitagion 13:24 - NEC - Pre-Term Babies Settlement 14:23 - Depo-Provera Litigation and conclusion Steven Smith is Vice President of Broughton Partners, a mass tort marketing and consulting firm, where he has spent nearly 20 years advising law firms and claimants across major litigations including Talc, Roundup, Hernia Mesh, Social Media, Camp Lejeune, PFAS, NEC, and Depo-Provera. Known industry-wide as "The Mass Tort Mentor," he works to help claimants get connected with qualified representation and to help law firms navigate complex, evolving litigation.    Contact / Follow Steven Smith:  Firm: https://www.broughtonpartners.com/ Phone: 954-224-1733  Email: steve@broughtonpartners.com   Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week.

  8. Sep 16

    Mass Tort Update 2026: Meta Settlement, Round Up, J&J Baby Powder, & Hernia Mesh Cases | Steve Smith Pt. 1

    If you or a family member has a case in Talc, Roundup, Hernia Mesh, or the social media litigation, you've probably heard a settlement number in the news and wondered what it actually means for you. On this episode of Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb, host Gregg Goldfarb sits down with Steven Smith, Vice President of Broughton Partners, to unpack four major mass tort campaigns that are all reaching critical moments at once. Smith explains why J&J's $5.5 billion Talc settlement is really a floor, not a ceiling — with total payouts from this first wave expected closer to $8 billion, and no cap on what the company pays over time. He breaks down why a recent Supreme Court preemption ruling gutted the "failure to warn" claims in the Roundup litigation, while "design defect" claims may survive, and why the proposed class action's roughly $50,000 average case value has some claimants better off staying out of it. On Hernia Mesh, he details the split between Bard (which resolved lower-value cases early while holding back its biggest claims for a separate, stricter fund) and Covidien, where a recent verdict topped $66 million. And on social media, he walks through how Meta's $16.68 billion settlement with 29 state attorneys general is actually a step toward compensating individual families, not the end of the road. Throughout, Smith and Goldfarb stress that "qualified" is doing a lot of work in every one of these settlements — and that claimants should be talking to their own firm about where their specific case stands before assuming a headline number applies to them. What You'll Learn Why J&J's $5.5B Talc settlement is a floor, not a final number What "qualified" actually means — and why it changes as a case matures How the Supreme Court's preemption ruling reshaped the Roundup litigation Why some Roundup claimants may be better off outside the class action How Bard and Covidien ended up handling hernia mesh cases so differently What the $66 million Covidien verdict signals for pending cases Why Meta's $17B settlement is with states, not the injured kids themselves How to tell if your case is being handled by the right firm What "opting out" of a settlement means, and when it makes sense   Time Stamps: 0:00 – Cold open: $17 billion Meta settlement 0:27 – Intro: Steven Smith joins to break down mass tort settlements 1:22 – Talc / Johnson & Johnson (baby powder settlement, $5.5B+) 12:02 – Roundup (Bayer, Supreme Court ruling, class action) 17:37 – Hernia Mesh (Bard, Covidien, $66M verdict) 22:38 – Social Media (Meta, TikTok, Snapchat — $17B settlement explained)    Steven Smith is Vice President of Broughton Partners, a mass tort marketing and consulting firm, where he has spent nearly 20 years advising law firms and claimants across major litigations including Talc, Roundup, Hernia Mesh, Social Media, Camp Lejeune, PFAS, NEC, and Depo-Provera. Known industry-wide as "The Mass Tort Mentor," he works to help claimants get connected with qualified representation and to help law firms navigate complex, evolving litigation.    Contact / Follow Stephen Smith:  Firm: https://www.broughtonpartners.com/ Phone: 954-224-1733  Email: steve@broughtonpartners.com   Want more conversations that cut through the noise on science, climate, and the issues shaping our future? Subscribe to Climate Change Environment Science & the Law with Gregg Goldfarb for new episodes every week.

    Mass Tort Update 2026: Meta Settlement, Round Up, J&J Baby Powder, & Hernia Mesh Cases | Steve Smith Pt. 1
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This show presents guests to discuss a range of topics on the most critical issues of our times, including climate change, energy, the environment, science, and the law. Oftentimes, the topics are intertwined making the discussions multi-layered and fascinating. Guests are industry leaders that discuss the issues in a question and answer format almost as if they are in a courtroom. Guests are not prepped prior to the show. As a trial attorney that focuses on environmental, institutional sexual abuse, healthcare and pharmaceutical litigation for several decades, Gregg digs into the guests opinions and points of view with the objective of advancing the issues involved with these critical topics. This is show for you if you find yourself asking these questions. Is climate change real? Is climate Change caused by humans? Is climate change caused by fossil fuels? Should I be worried about climate change? Is renewable energy reliable? How does the Iran conflict or war impact energy? Will the Iran conflict or war cause nations to use more renewable energy? Is renewable energy better for the planet than fossil fuels? Do fossils fuels (oil, gas) warm the planet? How do fossil fuels warm the planet? What is plug in solar? Can I buy a plug in solar? Does my State permit plug in solar? Will plug in solar reduce my electric bill? Can I install plug in solar myself? Why are my electric bills rising? Is the price of gas going to go up or down? What is a heat dome? Are heat domes caused by climate change? Why is Trump stopping wind farns? Why is Trump attacking renewable energy? Is it legal for Trump to pay conpanies not to create wind farms? What is geothermal energy? Is hydrogen a potential source of clean energy? What is clean energy? What is net zero emissions? Does geoengineering work? What is geoengineering? What are the risks or downside to geoengineering? Can solar panels help farmers? Are agrovoltaics good for farmers? How many environmental regulations has Trump rescinded? How many clean energy jobs were lost because of Trump? How much clean energy did we lose because of Trump? What is the Strait of Hormuz? How does the Strait of Hormuz impace the price of gas? What is causing the water shortages in the Colorado River? How is the government dealing with the shortage of water from the Colorado River? Why don't people trust science? Should I be skeptical of science? Should I trust my doctor? Should i trust AI for my medical issues? Are plastics bad for the planet? Does recycling work? Does recycling helo reduce the use of plastic? What is happening to the bee populations? Are bees in trouble? What can be done to help the bee populations? What are monarch butterflies? Are the monarch butterlies in danger? Are pesticides bad for humans? Is glyphosate bad for humans? Why are wildfires so big? Is climate change causing the wildires? Why do we use pesticides? What are herbicides? Are herbicides bad for the planet? Is paraquat dangerous for people? Is roundup dangerous for people? Is rounder toxic? Can roundup cause me to get cancer? Can roundup cause my to get non hodgkins lymphoma? Why are social media companies being sued? What is the update on the roundup litigation? Did Bayer settle the roundup cases? What are the terms of the roundup settlement? What is the update on the Johnson @ Johnson talc cases? What the terms of the settlement of Johnson @ Johnson talc cases? What is the status with the Boy Scout sexual abuse cases? What is the status with the MESH litigation? What is the status with the AFFF litigation? What are PFAs? What are forever chemicals? Are forever chemicals bad for us? Are PFAs bad for us? How can I avoid PFAs in my drinking water? Is Trump doing anything about PFAs? Are microplastics are problem for us or the planet? How do microplastics harm us? Does capital punishment work? Is Trump using firing squads? Is Trump using the electric chair? Are native plants better for your yard? Are non-native plant

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