The court holds that a corporation's insurance policy covered costs related to the 1979 discovery of contamination resulting from a 1974 perchloroethylene (PERC) spill. The court first notes that under Rhode Island law "property damage" and "occurrence" are inextricably intertwined. There can be no ...

The court holds that a Minnesota statute requiring public entities to comply with county waste management plans does not violate the federal Commerce Clause. The court first holds that the appellant waste contractors' association does not have standing to challenge one of the waste disposal statutes...

The court holds that a chlorine manufacturer may bring contractual indemnification claims against a contractor for environmental costs, fines, and penalties incurred after the contractor's employees were exposed to mercury at the manufacturer's facility. The employees and their spouses, who also wer...

The court holds that the insurer of a dry cleaning equipment manufacturer has no duty-to-defend the manufacturer for claims arising out of perchloroethylene (perc) contamination caused by the equipment. The court first notes that because the perc contamination is clearly within the insurance policy'...

The court holds that two endorsements to a helicopter company's aircraft liability insurance policy do not provide coverage for damages resulting from an oil spill at a hospital's helipad. The hospital contracted with the company for emergency transport services. After obtaining a jury verdict again...

The court holds that the Secretary of Transportation's failure to issue an environmental impact statement (EIS) in connection with an order awarding takeoff and landing slots to airlines at LaGuardia Airport in New York did not violate the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Secretary gran...

The court holds that the U.S. Constitution does not mandate retroactive application of a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision to a waste disposal company owner who was convicted under state law for operating a hazardous waste facility without a permit. The waste facility operator and a co-defendant e...

The court holds unconstitutional a state statute that provides immunity from nuisance suits to farms in designated agricultural areas. A county's approval of an application for an agricultural area gave the applicants immunity from nuisance suits. Neighbors of the applicants contend that the approva...

The court holds that two insurance companies breached their duty to defend a chemical distributor in a class action alleging personal injuries caused by toxic fumes from a warehouse fire. The court first holds that a pollution exclusion endorsement added to the distributor's policy with its primary ...

The court holds constitutional a local zoning ordinance prohibiting land removal businesses from expanding in surface area their existing excavated area by more than 25 percent unless they obtain a special use permit. The court first holds that it will analyze the case under the doctrine of substant...