During the early years of New Jersey’s remediation program, challenging decisions of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) bordered on Quixotic mission. Times have changed, though, and courts are no longer intimated by NJDEP and we have discussed a number of cases where courts have overruled the agency’s decisions. See dry cleaner case and […]
NJ Ct. Vacates NJDEP Denial of Innocent Party Grant Read More »
We have previously discussed the complex litigation involving a planned development on a portion of a World War 2 bombing range in Louisiana . In the latest installment of this saga, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a legal malpractice claim filed against bond counsel in Coves of the Highland Community
Carroll Co. v. Sherwin-Williams Co., 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47349 (D.Md. 4/2/13) involved a dispute over the cleanup obligations of a seller. This case illustrates the drawback of having of a seller complete a cleanup after closing. In December 2005, Carroll Company (Carroll) entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement to purchase a chemical blending and
Parties Battle Over Scope of Seller’s Post-Closing VCP Obligations Read More »
The decision in Revell v Guido, 956 N.Y.S.2d 343 (App. Div-3rd Dept. 2012) is another example of the limits of “as is” contracts when it comes to environmental issues. The doctrine of caveat emptor is still valid in commercial transactions but may not insulate sellers from liability when they make misstatements in environmental questionnaires or
NY Case Illustrates Dangers of Completing Environmental Questionnaires Read More »
What happens to a remediation escrow account when the funds are deposited in a bank that is subsequently closed and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) is appointed as a receiver? Some of the issues that need to be considered are illustrated in Kuruvilla Edukutharayil v. FDIC, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8840 (N.D.Ill. 1/23/13). In this
Ct Allows Environmental Escrow Claim Agst FDIC To Proceed Read More »
The twin rulings in Westwood Dev. Partners, LLC v. Draper, 2012 Del. Super. LEXIS 161, 2012 Del. Super. LEXIS 162 (Del. Super. Ct., Mar. 29, 2012) eluded our radar screen last year due to the end of the year crush of deals. While these rulings are admittedly a bit stale, we are sharing them since they provide
Parties Must Proceed To Trial on Meaning of “Satisfactory Phase 1” Contingency Read More »
What started out as a toxic tort lawsuit has evolved into a precedent-setting case involving the Indiana Real Property Transfer Law (RPTL) with a potentially fascinating Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Practices Act (RICO) ruling waiting in the wings. The legal trade press focused much of its attention on the RCRA 7002 rulings handed down by
Ct Rules Indiana Real Property Transfer Law May Be Triggered By Historic Uses Read More »
We have previously discussed why borrowers and purchasers should independently evaluate environmental conditions at their properties and simply rely on phase 1 reports prepared by their lenders or sellers. Click Here. Borrowers typically believe that a site is “clean” if a bank determines that a Phase 1 is acceptable. However, what many purchasers or do
Buyer Relies on Seller/Lender Phase 1 To Detriment Read More »
ORIX Capital Markets, LLC v. Cadlerocks Centennial Drive LLC, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6081 (D. Mass. 1/15/13) involved a relatively small commercial loan but offers lots of lessons for borrowers, their counsel and environmental consultants. In this case, Salomon Brothers Realty Corp. (Solomon) extended a ten-year loan in the amount of $1.925MM to Cadlerocks Centennial
CMBS Special Servicer May Pursue Guarantor Despite Environmental Policy Read More »
The United States Court of Appeals finally issued its much anticipated ruling in PCS Nitrogen v Ashley II of Charleston, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 6815 (4th Cir. 4/4/13) last week. However, the wait turned out to be much ado about nothing. The court affirmed the district court rulings but did not clarify perhaps the most
Fourth Circuit Affirms Ashley Rulings Read More »