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Experience
Represented petitioners in Meghrig v. KFC Western, 516 U.S. 479 (1996), in which a unanimous Supreme Court held that cleanup costs could not be recovered under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Lead counsel in appeal successfully challenging certain aspects of new water quality program devised by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board to govern return flows from irrigated agriculture.
Represented major defendant in groundwater contamination matter brought by the City of Lodi pursuant to the federal Superfund statute and a unique municipal cleanup ordinance.
Lead counsel in an action successfully challenging the drinking water standard set by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment for perchlorate.
Counsel for aerospace company in major toxic tort action, including successful multi-day hearings resulting in the exclusion of plaintiff's key groundwater experts.
Environmental counsel for commercial real estate developer in the redevelopment of former petroleum tank farm into transshipment warehouse in Los Angeles Port area.
Represented major manufacturer in consent decree negotiations with EPA governing the largest groundwater cleanup in California.
Lead counsel in action by new landowner against environmental consultant regarding latent soil and groundwater contamination issues.
Represented fuel service operator in multi-party soil and groundwater cleanup at the San Francisco International Airport.
Defended party remediating hazardous waste landfill against action brought by neighboring landowner, a residential developer, alleging damage to its property.
Represented group of tenants at Lindbergh Field Airport in San Diego against the State Tank Fund. Successfully argued that regulatory provision precluding tenants from filing separate claims against the Fund contradicted legislative intent.
Achieved favorable settlement for small electronics company in multi-party groundwater contamination matter brought by local water district.
Represented major responsible party at Operating Industries, Inc. Superfund site. Successfully argued that the waste disposed of did not constitute a hazardous substance within the meaning of the Superfund statute.
Defended auto parts manufacturer in private party Superfund litigation involving four separate sites. Successfully argued that indemnity provision did not operate to shift cleanup liability to manufacturer.
Member of defense team defending rocket motor manufacturer in major toxic tort action. Principally responsible for fate-and-transport and causation portions of defense.
Represent major California real estate investor in environmental evaluation of all investments and in structuring transactions with environmental issues.
Lead counsel in action brought against major equipment leasing company alleging that equipment defect resulted in major diesel spill.
Review all environmental legislation introduced in the California legislature for a group of interested companies.
Represent partnership operating multiple car washes on underground storage tank issues, including contaminated property litigation and State Tank Fund issues.
Defended aircraft manufacturer in toxic tort suit in which plaintiffs alleged groundwater contamination impacted their private well. Early demonstration that well was not downgradient of manufacturer's operation resulted in dismissal.
Represented major ranch owner in contamination matters related to tenant activities.
MEMBERSHIPS
City of Davis, Historical Resources Management Commission, Commissioner
California EPA Brownfields Redevelopment Advisory Group, Member
Environmental Law Institute, Council of Partners, Former Member
MIT Educational Council, Member
ABA Natural Resources & Environmental magazine, Former Senior Editor
Capital Stage Theater Group, Board of Directors
EDUCATION
Columbia University School of Law, New York, New York (J.D., 1988)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts (B.S., 1981)
PUBLICAtions
Natural Resources & Environment, "Three Mile Jam," Spring 2005, article on population issues, Author
RCRA and Superfund: A Practice Guide with Forms, "Chapter 15: State Involvement in CERCLA Actions," Dec. 1993, M. O'Reilly, M. Norman & K. Kane eds., Author
Federal Bar Association's The Alert, "Recovery of Cleanup Costs Under RCRA--Conflict Among the Circuits?" Jan. 1996, Co-authored with J. Zaimes
Natural Resources & Environment, "Cost Recovery Meets the Supreme Court," Summer 1996, Author
Natural Resources & Environment, "Federalism and CERCLA Programs," Summer 1994, Author
HazMat World, "Re-Inventing Superfund means 'de-inventing' Superfund," March 1994, Author
Natural Resources & Environment, "Recent Decisions Lay the Ground for 'Escape Devices' to Ameliorate Joint and Several Liability under CERCLA," Winter 1993, Author
Los Angeles Lawyer, "Environmental Due Diligence," Jan. 1992, Co-authored with P. Dennis
Risk Management, "Old Liability Policies Unearth Underground Tank Coverage," April 1991, Co-authored with S. Weston
New York Law Journal, "Environmental Law," May 31, 1988, special 100th anniversary edition of NYLJ, Co-authored with S. Kass & M. Gerrard
PRESENTATIONS
Environmental Law Institute, Western "Boot Camp" On Environmental Law, "Legal Ethics," 2008, Speaker
CLE, "Stormwater: Enforcement and Legal Aspects," 2008, Speaker
Environmental Law Institute, Are there Synergistic Effects Between Toxic Tort Suits and Environmental Regulations? 2006, Panel Member
CLE, Anatomy of a Toxic Tort Case, 2003, Speaker
Environmental Law Institute, Recent Developments in Environmental Law: CERCLA Brownfields Amendments, 2002, Speaker
Chicago-Kent Law School, Recent Developments: Meghrig v. KFC Western, 1997, Speaker
ALI-ABA, Key Environmental Issues in EPA Region IX, 1996, Speaker.
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