News & Events

Strafford CLE Webinar: Asserting Divisibility in CERCLA Litigation in Federal Court

Posted on November 12, 2020

Strafford Live CLE Webinar

Asserting Divisibility in CERCLA Litigation in Federal Court: Practical Tips and Lessons Learned
Presented by Roux’s Adam Love, Ph.D. and William S. Hatfield of Gibbons
Thursday, November 19, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. U.S. ruling on divisibility under CERCLA led to optimism on the use of this defense to joint and several liability. However, there is no bright-line test for determining divisibility, and several court decisions have shown that defining and distinguishing harm at a site may be difficult

In court decisions involving the Fox River in Wisconsin, the Upper Columbia River in Washington state, and from Rhode Island and South Carolina, judges and parties wrestle with the threshold question for divisibility: is the harm “theoretically capable of apportionment”?

If the court’s answer to this question is “yes,” then the party seeking to limit its liability may succeed. If “no,” then the party may be jointly and severally liable and must bring contribution claims to shift responsibility to others under an equitable allocation approach. Court opinions addressing the divisibility/apportionment question continue to guide judges, litigants, and pre-litigation parties as they attempt to settle or otherwise resolve responsibility at contaminated sites.

Listen as our authoritative panel examines the statutory language and what the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. U.S. decision and its progeny mean for divisibility and apportionment. The panel will also review recent cases addressing this legal theory and offer practice pointers on which circumstances lend themselves to a divisibility defense, the main technical approaches available, and options on how to present this defense.

To register for this webinar with a special 50% off discount, please click on the link below.

Register Now

Roux Associates

Webinar Presenters

 

William S. HatfieldWilliam S. Hatfield
Director,
Environmental
Gibbons

Adam Love, Ph.D.Adam Love, Ph.D.
Vice President
Principal Scientist
Roux

Let's Connect

Stay up to date and get notified with important Roux updates.


    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.