The court holds that owned property and pollution exclusion clauses in comprehensive general liability policies do not preclude an insurance company's duty to defend a metals operation in an environmental contamination suit. The court first holds that because the complaint alleges groundwater contam...

The court holds that a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation that creates a 12-month grace period exempting transportation projects in nonattainment and maintenance areas from Clean Air Act (CAA) §176(c) is contrary to the plain meaning of the CAA. The court first holds that an envi...

The court affirms in part and reverses in part a district court decision on trespass, nuisance, strict liability, and negligence claims brought by property owners in Mississippi against a tire factory for the alleged release of carbon black and petroleum naptha. The court first holds that the simila...

The court holds that the U.S. Forest Service's management of national forests in Texas violates the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and its regulations. As a result of these violations, the court enjoins the Forest Service from engaging in timber harvesting under any method until such time tha...

Applying Wisconsin law, the court holds that the environmental investigation costs incurred by a utility company at two sites it previously owned are not damages under the company's comprehensive general liability (CGL) policies. Wisconsin courts interpret the word "damages" in CGL clauses narrowly ...

The court holds that a nonsettling potentially responsible party (PRP) must pay a portion of past and future remediation costs incurred by settling PRPs at the Sullivan's Ledge site in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Relying on the jury's findings, the court first holds that the nonsettling party must p...

The court holds that a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service warrant and subsequent search violated homeowners' Fourth Amendment constitutional rights against unreasonable searches and seizures when two cable television networks accompanied the search. The court first holds that collateral estoppel does no...

The court denies an insurer's motion to stay the proceedings and grants partial summary judgment to the insured corporation in an indemnification suit for personal injury damages resulting from the inhalation of sludge fumes. The court first denies the corporation's motion to dismiss the insurer's a...

The court holds that Endangered Species Act (ESA) §9(a)(1)'s application to a fly that exists only in California is within Congress' Commerce Clause power. The court first holds that the application of ESA §9 to the fly can be viewed as a proper exercise of Congress' Commerce Clause power over act...

The court holds that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Inspector General must disclose portions of its internal investigations manual and other law enforcement documents pursuant to a public interest group's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The court first holds ...