Toxics Law Reporter Index-Summary

SANCTIONS

– Pollution exclusion clauses, contract suit, insurer delay, legal fees (Mich. Ct. App.), 95

SEROQUEL

– “Agreements in principle,” settling mass litigation, 797
– Causation, diabetes, expert's methodology held unreliable (11th Cir.), 341
– Diabetes, defense verdict reached (N.J. Super. Ct.), 256
– Published diabetes data, suit untimely (Del. Super. Ct.), 1000

SETTLEMENTS

– Asbestos, plaintiff's settlement data (E.D. Pa.), 53
– Superfund, pro tanto settlement method favored (S.D.W. Va.), 260
– USTs, oil and gas, Long Beach, Cal., city/state settlement (Cal. Super. Ct.), 104
– Zinc mining, soil and groundwater contamination (Okla. Dist. Ct.), 124

SHIPS AND SHIPPING

– Asbestos

– – Merchant marine's son exposed, award (Md. Cir. Ct.), 93
– – Navy ship parts, third party liability (Cal.), 5

– Benzene, shipyard owners seek cleanup from steel mill (D. Md.), 1005
– Clean Air Act (CAA), diesel engines

– – Compliance, sales without compliance certificates charged (D.D.C.), 1037
– – Oil refineries, nitrogen oxide rule challenge (D.C. Cir.), 679

– Clean Water Act (CWA)

– – Obsolete government ships (E.D. Cal.), 83
– – Tugboat and barge firm manager sentenced for illegal dumping (N.D. Cal.), 889

– Global standards for hazardous waste, EPA rule, 15
– Oil spill, San Francisco Bay ship operator fined (N.D. Cal.), 170

SILICA

– Product liability, quarryman's faulty respirator charge untimely filed (E.D. Mo.), 1096
– Workers' compensation for lung disease, causation testimony (Tenn.), 22
– Wrongful death, lung cancer, executrix standing (Miss.), 183

SMELTERS

– China, lead poisoning, Gansu province residents sue smelter, 519
– Lead may not be “pollutant” in insurance policies (E.D. Mo.), 431
– Tex. law, unallocated settlements bar cleanup claim against insurer (5th Cir.), 781
– Zinc, verdict for neighbors conditionally affirmed (W.Va.), 282; settlement (W.Va. Cir. Ct.), 1236

SMOKING

See TOBACCO INDUSTRY

SODIUM HYDROXIDE

– Fiberglass storage tank, negligent manufacture, worker burned (8th Cir.), 92

SOIL POLLUTION

– Canada, nickel refinery liable for lost property values, 699
– China, law similar to Superfund drafted, 147
– Dioxins, EPA interim cleanup guidance, 14; opposing views voiced, 355
– Landfills

See LANDFILLS

– Pigments and dyes, Sensient Colors, Camden plant cleanup settled (D.N.J.), 561
– Solvents, N.J., cleanup settlement reached, 785
– Superfund

– – Excavation and removal during cleanup not “disposal” (M.D. Pa.), 674
– – Gas plant, Wis., cleanup plan unveiled, 1075
– – PCE, fiduciary exemption protects trustee/cleanup contractor (N.D. Cal.), 1074
– – Walpole manufacturing site since 1770s, settlement (D. Mass.), 781

– TCE, electronics plant, natural resource damages (N.J. Super. Ct.), 32
– Zinc mining, soil and groundwater contamination (Okla. Dist. Ct.), 124

SOLVENTS

– Brain damage, railroad worker's FELA verdict (Ky.), 516
– Cancer link, causation, jury instruction upheld (Cal. Ct. App.), 1067
– Fire, supplier from India must pay for damage (Tex. Dist. Ct.), 239
– N-Propyl Bromide, solvents industry seeks regulation, 1167
– N.J., soil and groundwater cleanup, settlement, 785
– Potassium hydroxide shipment, EPA view of “spent material” challenged (D.C. Cir.), 463; initial use determines product's status, 802
– VOC emissions, Safety-Kleen Sys. settles state charges (Cal. Super. Ct.), 381

SOUTH CAROLINA

– Chlorine gas, railway not liable to residents outside evacuation area (4th Cir.), 1178
– Paint fumes, duty to indemnify, pollution exclusion clause (D.S.C.), 56

SOUTH DAKOTA

– Clean Air Act (CAA)

– – Coal-fired power plant, Sierra Club challenge properly dismissed (8th Cir.), 836
– – Ethanol producers, settle emissions, VOC violations (D.S.D.), 1081

SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY

– Drinking water, toxic exposures at Camp Lejeune, personal injury suit (E.D.N.C.), 182
– Hexavalent chromium in Iraqi water plant, FTCA does not bar veterans' claims (D. Or.), 906
– Metals, time bar on nuisance and trespass claims not defeated (C.D. Ill.), 483
– Superfund cost recovery

– – Fraud claim (D.V.I.), 28
– – Third party complaints, filing suit does not waive immunity (M.D. Pa.), 674

SPILLS

– Clean Water Act (CWA)

– – Chicago, tank barge explosion and spill, captain charged (N.D. Ill.), 57
– – Crude oil spills, Houston-based firm settles charges (E.D. Tex.), 805
– – Exxon Valdez

See Exxon Valdez, this heading

– – Nustar Pipeline fined for not maintaining spill plans (D. Neb.), 263
– – Pacific Pipeline Systems, penalty (C.D. Cal.), 83

– Coal ash, discretionary function doctrine does not bar maintenance suit against TVA (E.D. Tenn.), 284
– Coast Guard reauthorization, spill prevention

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3619

– Exxon Valdez

– – Animals, impact study, 116
– – Award allocation (U.S., rev sought), 4; (rev den), 181

– Gulf of Mexico

– – Advance payments to affected states

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 3306

– – Agencies to probe, 409
– – Ala. files two suits over BP spill (M.D. Ala.), 822; BP rejects lost revenue claim, 980
– – BP blames Halliburton cement work, report, 946
– – Broad scope of impacts discussed, 752
– – Cause of rig accident unexplained at Senate hearings, 469
– – Clean Water Act (CWA)

– – – Citizens' suit, enforcement against BP planned, 567; filed (E.D. Pa.), 624; legal issues analyzed, Insight, 958
– – – Transocean, rig owner, claims may proceed (S.D. Tex.), 596

– – Compensation fund distribution not based on proximity, 1154; two options offered, 1238
– – Congress briefed on cleanup progress, 434; Congress weighs legislation, 523
– – Consolidation sought for suits against BP, Transocean and others (MDL), 453; 77 suits transferred and consolidated (J.P.M.L.), 795; La. suit to remain in multidistrict litigation (E.D. La.), 1064; BP waives liability limit, 1096; structure and schedule for litigation set, 1154; discovery to begin, 1239; status conference dates set, 1321; Justice Dept. files suit (E.D. La.), 1354; Transocean safety audit records ordered, 1355
– – Crisis communication plans, Insight, 735
– – Escrow account to be created by BP, 600
– – Food

– – – Dispersant Corexit 9500, class suit (E.D. La.), 666
– – – Fishing ban area and monitoring efforts expanded, 498
– – – Shrimpers file negligence suit (E.D. La.), 423

– – Gulf Coast Claims Facility, process and predictions, Insight, 985
– – Insurers seek ruling on coverage (S.D. Tex.), 544
– – Liability caps

– – – GAO asks Congress to revise trust fund cap, 1223
– – – House panel measure to raise liability planned, 602
– – – Increase to $10B

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 3305

– – – Offshore drilling accidents, Insight, 575
– – – Transocean seeks $26.8M limit (S.D. Tex.), 482; DOJ moves to block limit, 563; Transocean/DOJ agreement reached, 597
– – – White House supports lifting limit on future spills, 557

– – Litigation, over 100 suits filed, 558
– – Louisiana

– – – BP to restore La. coast and test seafood, 1153
– – – Transocean sued by state (E.D. La.), 979

– – National commission works on restoration proposal, 1287
– – Natural resource trustees assess damage, 1041
– – Obama calls for updates to oil pollution laws, 601
– – Restoration head seeks to divert CWA trust funds to BP cleanup, 1008
– – Taxation and liability increases considered by White House, 498

– N.J., prior property owner not liable for hazardous waste generation (N.J. Super. Ct.), 865
– Oil and gas

– – BP spill

See Gulf of Mexico, this heading

– – Coast Guard ups liability limits, 33
– – Cook Inlet, tanker and refinery settle claims with Alaska, 708
– – Cosco Busan owner settles over bunker fuel spill in San Francisco Bay (Cal. Super. Ct.), 1255
– – Data collection by Coast Guard may begin, 923
– – Economic loss claim enough to bring Oil Pollution Act case (W.D. La.), 350
– – Exxon Valdez

See Exxon Valdez, this heading

– – Ill., crude oil pipeline spill, charges filed, 1078
– – Massachusetts

– – – Buzzards Bay, parts of state law preempted (D. Mass.), 351
– – – Coastal property owners, class certification (1st Cir.), 180

– – Mich., Kalamazoo River, cleanup pact reached, 1187
– – Natural resource damages, transport firm settles (D. Mass.), 1222
– – N.C. toughens spill liability, 806
– – Nuisance suit, added claim time-barred under Oil Pollution Act (D. Kan.), 1254
– – Puget Sound crude oil spill, fine assessed (W.D. Wash.), 264
– – San Francisco Bay ship operator fined for spill (N.D. Cal.), 170
– – Tenn., Oliver Springs, cleanup settlement, 1082

– Superfund, coal tar distillates, railcar loading and inspection firms not liable (S.D.W. Va.), 165
– Waste sludge, Hungary, EU reconsiders safety and liability rules, 1083

STANDING

– Asbestos, successor in interest, Commerce Clause issues clarified (Pa.), 1306
– Citizen's suits, requirement for specific injury claims discussed, 193
– CWA, lead bullets, citizens' standing (U.S., rev sought), 79; (rev den), 261
– RCRA, masonry block from aircraft particles, rule clarification (U.S., rev sought), 430; (rev den), 563
– Vioxx, settlement objectors may not challenge 2007 pact (5th Cir.), 746
– Wrongful death, silica exposure, executrix standing (Miss.), 183

STATE DEVELOPMENTS

See specific state names

STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS

– AIDS, HIV-contaminated blood product, Taiwanese plaintiffs' claims time-barred (7th Cir.), 316
– Asbestos

– – Common law rule of repose runs when injury appears (Ala.), 423
– – Dissolved firms, allowed suits limited to Cal. firms (Cal. Ct. App.), 426

– Carbon monoxide, Wal-Mart enclosed freezer section employees' claims time-barred (6th Cir.), 204
– Cement, property damage claim accrued despite state's finding (Tex. Ct. App.), 1235
– Clean Air Act (CAA)

– – Duke Energy, permit suit untimely (S.D. Ind.), 978
– – Nonroad engines, rules challenge untimely (U.S., rev den), 1036

– Drinking water, toxic exposures at Camp Lejeune, personal injury suit (E.D.N.C.), 182; repose law exception allows suit, 1208
– Duty to indemnify, time bar inapplicable to firm administratively dissolved (S.D. Ind.), 261
– Ephedra and aneurysm link, discovery time bar guidance sought (2d Cir.), 257
– FIFRA, spray drift suit against EPA time-barred (D.D.C.), 1153
– Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

– – N.Y. time-barred claims may not be filed elsewhere (D. Minn.), 1000
– – Provera and breast cancer (Pa. Super. Ct.), 51
– – Va. cancer claims timely, tolled by prior class suit (E.D. Va.), 641

– Metals, sovereign immunity cannot defeat time bar on nuisance and trespass claims (C.D. Ill.), 483
– Minn. cost recovery, discretion in timeliness (D. Minn.), 731
– Mirapex and gambling, time-bar (D. Minn.), 913
– Mold, mobile home minus land not “real property,” suit untimely (Mich. Ct. App.), 156
– Oil spill, claim added to nuisance suit time-barred under Oil Pollution Act (D. Kan.), 1254
– Pain pumps

– – Limitations period, discovery rule saves claims (D. Minn.), 1211; most claims to proceed, 1309
– – N.C. plaintiff's case transferred (D. Minn.), 727

– Paxil

– – Infant's death, use during pregnancy, suit not time-barred (S.D. Ohio), 374
– – Suicide, wrongful death appeal untimely (10th Cir.), 424; rehearing sought, 486

– RCRA, endangerment finding (N.D. Tex.), 78
– Seroquel, diabetes link, suit untimely (Del. Super. Ct.), 1000
– Silica, quarryman's faulty respirator charge untimely filed (E.D. Mo.), 1096
– Substitution of parties, Miss. post-death claim dismissed (Miss.), 1123
– Superfund

– – Discovery rule, interpretations, Insight, 710
– – Landfill cleanup, cost recovery claim time-barred (W.D. Pa.), 1185
– – Oversight cost claim untimely (D.N.J.), 1004
– – Poultry waste, Ill. River, tribe's motion to intervene untimely (10th Cir.), 1004

– Vaccines, DPT, child's cognitive impairment, state compensation requires timely federal filing (N.C. Ct. App.), 396
– Zyprexa and diabetes

– – Adolescent (E.D.N.Y.), 6
– – Weight gain, suspicion (E.D.N.Y.), 115

STATUTES OF REPOSE

– Asbestos

– – Dissolved firms, statute valid for claims against (Me.), 544
– – Floor tile manufacturer may not invoke statute (R.I. Super. Ct.), 1027
– – Rule begins to run when injury appears (Ala.), 423

– Pondimin and pulmonary hypertension, suit barred (U.S., rev den), 286

STEEL

– Benzene, shipyard owners seek cleanup from steel mill (D. Md.), 1005
– Clean Air Act (CAA)

– – Greenhouse gas from stationary sources, steel firms challenge EPA rule (D.C. Cir.), 564
– – Silicon steel plant, Allegheny Ludlum fined (W.D. Pa.), 493
– – Steel plant's operating permit to be reviewed (S.D. Ill.), 864

– CWA, Baltimore, Bethlehem Steel charged with toxic releases (D. Md.), 706
– Particulates emissions, reductions at Ill. plant planned, 732

SULFUR DIOXIDE

– Chinese drywall, sulfur gas

– – Fla. homeowner class certified (Fla. Cir. Ct.), 551
– – Indemnity, builder's voluntary cleanup not covered (E.D. Va.), 368
– – Jury award to Fla. couple (Fla. Cir. Ct.), 640
– – Lowe's settles with nationwide purchaser class (Ga. Super. Ct.), 825
– – Multidistrict case, economic losses (E.D. La.), 75; seven Va. homes to be repaired, 342; award for La. family, 397; 300 homes to be repaired, 1128; pollution exclusion clauses no bar to coverage, 1349

– Clean Air Act (CAA)

– – Hourly air standard announced by EPA, 569; industry groups and states challenge standard (D.C. Cir.), 888
– – Murphy Oil, Meraux refinery (E.D. La.), 122; settlement (W.D. Wis.), 1009
– – Power plant emissions, legislation plan, 105

– Clean Air Interstate Rule replacement, stricter emissions caps proposed, 681
– Medical waste incinerators, EPA to revise emission standards, 497
– Power plant emissions caps

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 2995

SUPERFUND

– Apportionment rules not changed by Burlington ruling (E.D. Cal.), 461
– Armed services

– – Air force base cleanup without formal pact illegal, EPA says, 949
– – Ft. Detrick, Md., cleanup agreement finalized, 1345

– Bankruptcy

– – Chemtura resolves liability for 17 sites (S.D.N.Y.), 861; Gowanus Canal cleanup proposed (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.), 1035
– – Chrysler, unsecured claim for EPA (S.D.N.Y.), 755
– – Creosote, Tronox settles cleanup liability in 22 states (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.), 1248
– – Lyondell Chem., cleanup settled (S.D.N.Y.), 323
– – Packaging maker Smurfit-Stone settles claims for six sites (Bankr. D. Del.), 1161

– Brownfields, all appropriate inquiries rule, comments, 267
– Contribution

See CONTRIBUTION

– Cooperative agreements for response and remediation, EPA submits proposed rule, 439
– Cost recovery

– – Benzene, shipyard owners seek cleanup from steel mill (D. Md.), 1005
– – B.F. Goodrich site, U.S. waived right to sue private PRPs in earlier case (C.D. Cal.), 832
– – Burlington case effect on liability, 84
– – Coal tar distillates, railcar spill, loading and inspection firms not liable (S.D.W. Va.), 165
– – Consent pact does not bar claim (W.D.N.Y.), 1185
– – Electroplating, owner of leased equipment liable as facility owner (N.D. Ill.), 141
– – Fraud claim, sovereign immunity (D.V.I.), 28
– – Highway storm water runoff, state liable for cleanup (W.D. Wash.), 675
– – Industrial waste water plant, corporate veil not pierced (E.D. Mo.), 801
– – Injunction denial bars response claim (Mich. Ct. App.), 1135
– – Liability finding not needed to constitute initial action (D.N.H.), 1282
– – Mercury, N.Y. site, costs sought from metal dealers and recyclers (S.D.N.Y.), 377
– – Non-settling party may intervene in consent decree (9th Cir,), 561
– – Oversight cost claim untimely (D.N.J.), 1004
– – Owner/operator liability does not attach to off-site cleanup (W.D. Wash.), 705; arranger liability attaches before causation, 1247
– – “Ownership” status determined at time of cleanup (9th Cir.), 754
– – PCE, party reimbursing state may not seek cost recovery (E.D.N.Y.), 290
– – Pa. landfill cleanup, recovery claim time-barred (W.D. Pa.), 1185
– – Perchlorate, noncompliance with Natl. Contingency Plan (9th Cir.), 801; (U.S., rev den), 1247
– – Pigments and dye, Sensient Colors, Camden plant cleanup settled (D.N.J.), 561
– – Pro tanto settlement method favored (S.D.W. Va.), 260
– – Radioactive byproduct releases, state-initiated cleanup (M.D. Pa.), 120
– – State immunity to third party complaint not waived by CERCLA filing (M.D. Pa.), 674

– Criminal cases

See CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE

– Defense Dept. sites, EPA may need expanded authority, GAO report, 839
– Dioxins, Mich. water pollution, Dow Chem. cleanup, 55
– Diverted funds, official not alter ego (Tex. Ct. App.), 1110
– Financial assurance for cleanups, 16; affected industries, 33
– Fraud conspiracy, subcontractor's sales rep sentenced (D.N.J.), 190
– Independent government cost estimates, EPA urged to emphasize, 171
– Insurance

– – Excess insurer may have defense duty despite policy's silence (Wis.), 677
– – Third-party property cleanup within site, no coverage owed (Wis. Ct. App.), 1218

– Landfills

See LANDFILLS

– Limitations period, discovery rule, interpretations, Insight, 710
– Manufacturing site since 1770s, Walpole, settlement (D. Mass.), 781
– Mining

– – Bunker Hill site, claims by Coeur d'Alene tribe settled (D. Idaho), 214
– – Questa, N.M., Molycorp to be cleaned up, 1346

– Natural resource damages

See NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGES

– N.J. site, chemical firm and officers to pay for cleanup (D.N.J.), 755
– Oil and gas

– – Newtown creek site, ExxonMobil settles charges (E.D.N.Y.), 1250
– – San Pablo Bay refinery, natural resource damages, Chevron fined (N.D. Cal.), 141

– Outlook 2010, 173
– PCBs

See POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs)

– Prospective purchaser defense and liability protection, Special Report, 1357
– Radiation, Gulf Nuclear Site, cleanup resolved by Halliburton and others (S.D. Tex.), 862
– Refineries, Okla. site, multiple defendants settle (W.D. Okla.), 1108
– Takings claim inapplicable to waterway restrictions at Superfund site (Fed. Cir.), 1259
– Tar Creek site, relocation fund to cover Kan. residents, 378; ban on property value suits valid (Okla.), 644; state not party to tribe's damages suit (N.D. Okla.), 886
– Taxation

– – Orphan site cleanups

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 3125

– – “Polluter pays” taxes, reinstatement urged, 625

– TCE, Kan. airport, Raytheon cleanup ordered (10th Cir.), 10
– Top 2010 issues, 173
– USTs, contamination threat data warrants EPA access (D. Mass.), 974
– Vapor intrusion, site qualification, GAO suggests criteria, 648
– VOCs

– – Circuit board maker, groundwater cleanup settlement (D.N.J.), 377
– – Electroplating site, five firms to pay cleanup costs (N.D. Ill.), 833

– Voluntary standard for sustainable remediation discussed, 219

SUPREME COURT, U.S.

– Associate justice, Kagan nominated, 467
– Baycol and heart disease, economic injury class action bar (rev grant), 1028
– Clean Air Act (CAA)

– – Nonroad engines, rules challenge untimely (rev den), 1036
– – Nuisance suits to cut electric plants' greenhouse gas emissions (rev sought), 797; full review opposed (brief filed), 887; (amicus briefs filed), 948; (rev grant), 1272

– Clean Water Act (CWA)

– – Citizens' suit, lead bullets, standing (rev sought), 79; (rev den), 261
– – Everglades, polluted water transfer, permit not needed (rev sought), 838; Miccosukee Tribe also appeals (rev sought), 888; (rev den), 1248
– – Exxon Valdez oil spill, award allocation (rev sought), 4; (rev den), 181
– – Permit requirements, EPA exemptions vacated (rev den), 167; EPA developing legal protection for applicators, 192; safety concerns over proposed permits raised, 245; OMB reviews EPA proposal, 471
– – Real estate developer, dredging conviction (rev den), 29
– – Wetlands, warrantless search, N.J. fine and restoration order (rev sought), 1007

– Climate change, Hurricane Katrina, Miss. property owners' suit (rev sought), 910
– Corporate citizenship in diversity cases, “nerve center” test (vac and rem), 156
– HRT and breast cancer, plaintiff opposes review of punitive award (brief filed), 555; (rev den), 618
– Lead paint, nuisance, contingent legal fees, amicus brief filed (rev sought), 1276
– Metoclopramide

– – Eighth Circuit finds no bar, Solicitor Gen. view invited (rev sought), 521; (brief filed), 1180; (rev grant), 1180
– – Fifth Circuit finds no bar, opposing review (brief filed), 827

– Pondimin and pulmonary hypertension, suit time barred (rev den), 286
– Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

– – Bankruptcy, cleanup costs not dischargeable (rev sought), 215; briefing time extended, 644; (rev den), 1034
– – Hydrogen sulfide gas, airplane de-icing at gate not dangerous (rev sought), 756; (rev den), 1034
– – Masonry block from aircraft particles, rule clarification (rev sought), 430; (rev den), 563
– – Tex. landfill disputes state authority (rev sought), 1105; (rev den), 1252

– Superfund

– – Boarhead Farms, payment rule, incurring cleanup costs (rev sought), 921; (rev den), 1246
– – Contribution, collateral source rule (rev den), 28
– – Perchlorate, noncompliance with Natl. Contingency Plan (rev den), 1247

– Tobacco, Scalia halts payment to La. smoker class (judgment stayed), 996; (rev sought), 1310
– Trovan clinical trials and meningitis, Nigerian families may sue Pfizer (rev den), 663
– Tylenol, failure to warn claims for over-the-counter drugs (rev sought), 1278
– Urinary tract analgesic, allergic reaction, pharmacy not liable (rev den), 1029
– Vaccines, design defect claims against manufacturers preempted (rev grant), 209; (briefs filed), 552; (amicus briefs filed), 590; respondent's case (brief filed), 748; (amicus briefs filed), 825; (oral arg), 1064