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Case

Battle for recognition for Q fever victims

Between 2007 and 2010, the Netherlands was hit by the largest Q fever epidemic in the world. Thousands of people became infected by a bacteria spread by goats. The consequences were enormous: an estimated 115 deaths and thousands seriously ill. Many victims still experience the effects of the infection on a daily basis.

What happened and the impact on people and society

The Q fever outbreak left deep scars. Many victims suffer permanently from severe fatigue, concentration problems and heart problems. Working or even leading a normal social life is no longer possible for many. Families were also badly affected: partners became informal caregivers, children saw their parents completely exhausted. In addition to personal suffering, there was social unrest about the role of the government: why did it take so long to intervene?

The interests at stake

The heart of this case touches on trust in government and the protection of public health. Victims feel that the State did not protect them sufficiently and took measures too late to stop the outbreak. The government invoked limited knowledge and discretion, but the question is: what did the State know at the time, and could faster action have prevented thousands of infections?

For whom Beer advocaten stands up

Beer advocaten represents more than 250 Q fever victims who are fighting together for recognition and compensation. We are assisting this group in their appeal against the Dutch State. Our commitment is not only legal, but also moral: victims must not suffer once again - this time from a system that refuses to acknowledge its negligence.

The challenge: government liability

The legal challenge is great. After all, the government has a certain freedom to make decisions based on the knowledge available at the time. Accordingly, the District Court of The Hague previously ruled that the State was not liable. In our opinion, the State already had sufficient information at the time to intervene more quickly. By not doing so, the State acted unlawfully.

The plan of action

In the appeal, we carefully map out what the government knew about the risks of Q fever and what measures would have been possible. We build the file step by step, with the goal of convincing the court that the district court's ruling was incorrect.

The case is ongoing - but the stakes are clear

There is no ruling on appeal yet. First it must be determined that the State is liable. Only then can individual compensation for each victim be assessed. The proceedings are expected to take years, but the determination among victims is strong. As Caroline van Kessel, president of Q-uestion, said:
"The court ruling was disappointing, but we are not giving up. The lives of Q fever victims have changed dramatically. With Beer advocaten, I feel that we are well supported legally and are not alone in our struggle for recognition."

What really matters

For Beer advocaten, this case is more than a legal battle. It is about recognition and restoration of trust for people who have been hit hard by an accumulation of mistakes. As attorney Laura-Jean van de Ven put it, “We are committed to the victims, so that they can still receive the recognition and compensation to which they are entitled. It touches me that this group of victims seems to be forgotten, while this misery could possibly have been spared them.”

This case shows why class actions are so important: They give a voice to citizens who would otherwise go unheard before large organizations such as the State.

Do you have questions about this, please contact Laura-Jean van de Ven.

Result

The Hague District Court ruled earlier that the State was not liable. There is no ruling on appeal yet. It must first be determined that the State is liable. Only then can the individual compensation for each victim be assessed. The procedure is expected to take years, but the determination among the victims is great.

"It touches me that this group of victims seems to be forgotten," he said.

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Standing up together for the collective interest?

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Case updates

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When care fails, damage comes to light

September 23, 2025

On July 29, 2000, Valentina, then one-year-old, became seriously ill. Her mother called the doctor's office several times, but was fobbed off each time by the assistant. Only four hours later was she allowed to come in. By then it was too late: Valentina was in septic shock due to a meningococcal infection. Admissions, surgeries and finally an amputation of her left hand followed. Her legs also grew crooked due to infections in the growth plates. Her body, life and future were permanently changed. A complex medical and legal puzzle In 2012, I came into the picture through a colleague who was retiring. Medical malpractice had been acknowledged, but causation was still disputed. Thanks to expert research, it became clear that Valentina would have had residual symptoms even without the delay, but to a lesser degree. Why turn to Beer advocaten? The case required not only legal knowledge, but also stamina and understanding. Valentina was looking for someone who believed her story, saw her options, and continued to fight for an appropriate settlement. That's why she knocked on the door of Beer advocaten. More than an injury claim The injury is not just physical or financial. Valentina now lives with her partner in a home that is not wheelchair-accessible. She has Wajong benefits, and her mobility is severely limited. For example, her boyfriend lifts her up and down the stairs because she herself can only get up and down the stairs on her buttocks and is therefore ‘broken’ once she gets down or up. Yet despite all the setbacks, she has shown great perseverance. She is an extremely pleasant and realistic person, who appreciates small things and has not given up hope for a future as a mother. Listening ear Although the case is still ongoing, Valentina is satisfied: “Mirella has been my lawyer for several years and is a very kind and understanding woman. For me she has been a listening ear and has been fully committed to the lawsuit. I am very grateful to her for the time and effort she has put into the case.” If you have questions about this type of case, please contact Mirella Hartman.

Misjudgment with fatal consequences

July 17, 2025

A youth nurse advises a young mother to cut off all contact with her baby's father. Within two weeks, the father is dead. Not from violence, but from grief and addiction. What began as well-intentioned youth care ended in irreparable loss. A family without a voice The father had just gotten his life back on track when he was told he could no longer see his newborn child. The youth nurse gave this urgent advice to the mother, without hearing both sides of the argument. She even threatened out-of-home placement if the mother opened the door to him. The father, just clean, sank into grief and used again. Two weeks later, he was found to have died of an overdose. Why the family sought help The paternal grandparents were intimately involved in the baby's care. They did not understand why they had not been informed, let alone heard. They felt left out. They wanted clarity. And recognition. Unauthorized and careless The youth nurse did not have the authority to give such far-reaching advice. Yet she did it. Without legal basis, without hearing both sides of the argument, without factual verification. What made her actions extra serious was that she requested and used medical information without permission. Much of it turned out not to be correct. How I proceeded I tried to rectify the situation by filing a disciplinary complaint with the Regional Disciplinary Tribunal for Health Care. With the family's permission, I was given access to the medical file under the BIG Act. In it I saw that the youth nurse had gone beyond her duties. She based her advice on incomplete and incorrect information. And gave the family no chance to tell their side of the story. How I look back on this case This case affected me deeply. If the father had been heard, taken seriously, this may never have happened. As a personal injury lawyer at Beer Advocaten, I remain committed to bringing these types of mistakes to light. After all, no one should be a victim of a system designed to protect. If you have questions about these types of cases, please contact Mildred Brun.

Getting home safely after work

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After a long day of work in a Brabant boner factory, eight Romanian migrant workers board a van on their way to their shared home in Germany. The van, owned by the employer, is driven by a colleague. Presumably due to fatigue, he gets on the wrong side of the road and collides head-on with a truck. Five are killed, three are seriously injured. The grief that remains Ana survives the accident, but loses her fiancé Dorian. She is seriously injured, both physically and mentally. Their future plans - they were to marry - are gone overnight. Dorian dies in her arms. Elena and Florentin, Dorian's parents, lose their daughter Gabriela and son-in-law Horatiu. They now care for their grandson Bela, who lost both his parents. Claudiu, Horatiu's father, is left heartbroken. The impact on these families is unimaginable. Why this affects me personally I am writing this blog on the way back from Bucharest. The conversations with Ana, Elena, Florentin and Claudiu do not let me go. The raw emotions, the enormous resilience of these families and the loss that affects them: it grips me. I am ashamed of the conditions under which some people have to work in the Netherlands. Why they need legal help so badly Ana and the relatives have lost their loved ones and now have to fight for compensation. On your own you won't make it in the complex personal injury system. Especially when you have to deal with language barriers, grief and financial worries all at the same time. That's why they asked me for help. Who is liable - and why that was clear In this case, liability is clear. The driver presumably fell asleep after a long day of work. In such a case, the occupants' damages will have to be compensated by the passenger van's insurer, while the employer can be held responsible for employee mistakes. How I approached this My focus was on securing all of the victims' rights. I invoked several (legal) bases: the no-fault third-party rule, the employer's liability for staff mistakes, as well as the lack of proper insurance. Each victim and each survivor is entitled to their own approach and calculation of damages. To this end, I work together with medical and financial experts. How I look back on this case I admire the strength of these families. And frustration with the system that puts people in such vulnerable circumstances. This case reminds me why I became a lawyer: to provide justice. If you have questions about this type of case, please contact Bojan Dekker.

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Noise pollution Schiphol - the voice of thousands of local residents

November 13, 2025

What happened. For years, thousands of residents living near Schiphol Airport have suffered severe noise pollution. Day and night their peace and quiet is disturbed by the constant roar of aircraft taking off and landing. The consequences are not limited to annoyance or nuisance: the nuisance affects the health, residential enjoyment and value of their homes. Local residents suffer from chronic sleep problems, stress, concentration disorders and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet for years, many feel neither heard nor protected. Their interests have been structurally subordinated to those of the aviation industry. A structural problem that demands recognition Noise pollution around Schiphol is not a temporary inconvenience, but a structural problem. The District Court of The Hague confirmed in 2024 what local residents already knew: their interests have been ignored for years and the government has failed to enforce adequately. Still, actual compensation is not forthcoming. Many residents experience it as a form of invisible damage - not immediately visible to the outside world, but felt daily in their health and living environment. The role of Beer advocaten The Foundation Samen Sterk tegen Vliegoverlast, in which Lammert van Raan is a member of the Supervisory Board, has engaged Beer advocaten to prepare a collective action against Schiphol and the Dutch State. The goal is clear: finally recognition and appropriate compensation for the thousands of victims who have been suffering under the increasing air traffic for decades. This kind of mass damage case is not about one person, but about bundling thousands of stories with the same suffering. By acting together, victims increase their legal and social clout. The stakes and challenges The stakes are large and multifaceted. For residents, it is about health, peace and quiet, quality of life and preservation of the value of their homes. For the government and Schiphol, the continuity of air traffic and the economy are central. Precisely in this clash of interests lies the crux of this case: where is the line between economic growth and the right to a healthy living environment? Legally, the challenges are considerable. Noise standards, enforcement and health limits vary between Dutch, European and international regulations. Moreover, evidence of long-term noise damage is often complex and spread across numerous situations and measurement points. Therefore, in this case, Beer advocaten is working with noise experts, health experts and statistical consultants to convincingly prove the impact of the nuisance. Cooperation as key “Such a collective action requires cooperation - with other lawyers and experts, but especially with the people at stake.” said attorney Gerrit Nagel. Cooperation with residents and Foundation members is essential. Their stories of experience, noise measurements and medical data combine to provide evidence of structural injustice. At the same time, that cooperation helps Beer advocaten sharpen the social debate: the damage suffered by local residents must no longer remain invisible. The significance of the case The Schiphol case is an example of modern mass damage: collective, often invisible damage with great social impact. It is not just about legal liability, but about the question of how we in the Netherlands deal with the right to health, tranquility and quality of life.

Mass damage from toxic waste dumping

November 13, 2025

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