CERCLA

7th Circuit Declines To Apply Third Restatement of Torts in Apportionment Case

CERCLA, Corporate and Real Estate Transactions / By

In U.S. v. NCR Corp., 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 16097 (7th Cir. 8/3/12) the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit declined to adopt the Third Restatement of Torts reflecting a national trend away from joint liability. This ruling seems to fly in the face of the legislative history of the Comprehensive Environmental […]

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Foreclosing Lender RCRA Action May Proceed

CERCLA, Environmental Due Diligence, Hazardous Waste, Lender Liability, vapor intrusion / By

A federal district court  declined to dismiss a RCRA 7002 action brought by a foreclosing lender against the owner of an adjacent dry cleaner in Forest Park National Bank & Trust  v Ditchfield,  2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 103007(N.D. Ill. 7/24/12).  The court also granted summary judgment on the bank’s CERCLA cost recovery claim. One reason

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Environmental Liability and “Fractional” Property Interests

CERCLA, Corporate and Real Estate Transactions, Environmental Due Diligence / By

Last week, we discussed due diligence for transactions involving purchases of equity interests in entities that own property that are in technical default of the mortgages. This post discusses potential environmental liability for fractional ownership interests in the underlying property. First year saw students are taught in Real Property Class that property ownership consists of

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Ct Grants Summary Judgment in Maryland Square Vapor Intrusion Case

CERCLA, vapor intrusion / By

We have been periodically posting updates on the progress of the landmark Voggenthaler v Maryland Square, LLC vapor intrusion case from Las Vegas, Nevada.  In the most recent ruling, the court granted the motion for summary judgment filed by the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP) seeking cost recovery under CERCLA.  2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS

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Environmental Saga Involves Successor Liability, Bankruptcy and Environmental Justice

bankruptcy, CERCLA, common law, Corporate and Real Estate Transactions, Hazardous Waste / By

The most recent decision in Flake v. Schrader-Bridgeport Int’l, Inc., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30372  (M.D. Tenn., Mar. 23, 2011) is just another chapter in this long-running environmental saga involving a successor liability, bankruptcy, toxic tort and environmental justice issues along with a piece of American automotive history. This well-traveled case began in a Tennessee county

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Failure To Timely Report Release Raises Triable Issue Sufficient to Preclude Summary Judgment

CERCLA / By

Ameripride Services. v. Valley Indus. Services, 2011U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55634 (E.D.Ca. 5/12/11) discussed how delays or failure to comply with CERCLA reporting requirements may impact a claim for contribution or cost recovery. In this case, Texas Eastern Overseas, Inc (TEO) conducted industrial dry cleaning at a facility until 1983 when it sold the property to

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Court Finds No Successor or Parent Liability For “Indirect” (Grandparent) Corporation

CERCLA, Corporate and Real Estate Transactions / By

In Precision Brand Products. v. Downers Grove Sanitary District, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88009 (N.D. 8/811), the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (“IEPA”) detected TCE in private wells  serving a residential community adjacent to the Ellsworth Industrial Park (EIP) in Downers Grove, Ill in 2001. The federal EPA conducted an investigation and issued PRP notices. A

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No Arranger Liability For Migration of Contaminated Groundwater

CERCLA / By

Hobart Corp v Waste Management of Ohio, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 148224 (S.D.Ohio 2/10/11) is an obscure decision from 2011 but has some complaint drafting lessons. This case started off as a classic CERCLA contribution action for a landfill cleanup. The plaintiff entered into a settlement with EPA to perform an RI/FS and then decides

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Acquisitions Bring CERCLA Liability to Banking Conglomerate

CERCLA, Corporate and Real Estate Transactions, Environmental Due Diligence, Lender Liability / By

From a purely legal standpoint, the recent ruling In Tennessee v. Roane Holdings Ltd., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 143703 (E.D.TN 12/14/11) was not unusual. The court ruled on a motion to dismiss that a party who had entered into an administrative order on consent could not bring a cost recovery action under CERCLA section 107

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11th Circuit Rules Parties To Consent Decree Limited to Contribution Claim

CERCLA / By

The Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit joined the 2nd,3rd and 8th Circuits in holding that a PRP that incurs response costs pursuant to a consent decree may only recover its costs through a section 113(f) contribution action and may not bring a 107 cost recovery action. In Solutia v McWane, 2012 U.S.App. LEXIS

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