A court upholds a city's approval of a construction project for a big box retail store. A citizens group argues that the city violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by failing to comply with procedural requirements and by failing to include a study of certain adverse impacts and mi...

A court affirms a lower court decision that water districts have an obligation to provide treated water to a town for domestic and other needs but that the cost of treatment may be passed along to the consumer. The water districts' obligation to provide domestic water supply can be found in the lang...

The court holds that excess liability insurance policies cover an insured's potential liability for environmental contamination at a former manufactured gas plant site in Dover, New Hampshire. The district court did not err in refusing to allow the case to go to the jury. The insurer claims that the...

A court reverses a lower court decision denying a petition challenging a city's approval of a construction project for a hotel, gas station, and convenience store complex. The city's reliance on an addendum to a mitigated negative declaration for the project, instead of independent environmental rev...

A court holds that the state legislature has not recognized an ocean boater's "right to a view" of the coastline as a factor in regulating development. Consequently, the California Coastal Commission erred in imposing special conditions on a developer's permit to build a residence and must rehear th...

The court holds that the California Timberland Productivity Act of 1982 (TPA) and general state forestry law do not preempt two county zoning ordinances relating to the permissible locations for timber operations. One ordinance restricts timber harvesting to specified zone districts within the count...

A court upholds the dismissal of residents' state- and local-law claims challenging the rezoning of a large area of land for retail development. The rezoning does not require a three-fourths majority vote of the town board because the residents' protest petition that sought to require a supermajorit...

The court denies a motion to remand to Louisiana state court individuals' class action against a company for the alleged seepage of mercury from one of its facilities. In addition to suing the company in state court, the class filed suit against the state environmental agency for failing to monitor,...

A court reverses a lower court decision denying a petition challenging a community college district's approval of a large construction and remodeling project. The district prejudicially abused its discretion by certifying a final environmental impact report (EIR), adopting a statement of overriding ...

A court upholds a declaratory judgment requiring the defendant insurance company to contribute to a second insurance company's cost of defending a manufacturing plant that both companies insured. The defendant previously entered into a settlement agreement with the plant that released it from any ob...