CERCLA Cost Recovery

Chicago, Illinois

Our client formerly owned and operated a coal tar manufacturing facility that was subsequently owned and used by others for various solvent storage and blending operations. The current owner, a land developer, filed a CERCLA Cost recovery claim against one of the former owners, who, in turn, filed a cross claim against our client. Roux Associates evaluated extensive soil and groundwater analytical data and studied historical site use patterns through aerial photographs and other information. Based on this work, Roux Associates prepared an expert report demonstrating that much of the contamination at the site that would require remediation, including some of the apparent coal tar contamination, actually resulted from the various solvent company operations.

The case settled favorably to our client prior to trial.