Source: https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/case-opinion/b/case/posts/united-states-v-atl-research-corp-602918527
Timestamp: 2020-07-02 13:51:45
Document Index: 782740031

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 107', '§ 9607', '§ 107', '§ 9607', '§ 107', '§ 9607', '§ 9607', '§ 113', '§ 9613', '§ 113', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 113', '§ 107', '§ 113', '§ 106', '§ 107']

United States v. Atl. Research Corp. | LexisNexis Case Opinion
United States v. Atl. Research Corp.
April 23, 2007, Argued ; June 11, 2007, Decided
[*131] [**2333] Justice Thomas delivered the opinion of the Court.
Two provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)--§§ 107(a) and 113(f)--allow private parties to recover expenses associated with cleaning up contaminated sites. 42 U.S.C. §§ 9607(a), 9613(f). In this case, we must [**2334] decide a question left open in Cooper Industries, Inc. v. Aviall Services, Inc., 543 U.S. 157, 161, 125 S. Ct. 577, 160 L. Ed. 2d 548 (2004): whether § 107(a) provides so-called potentially responsible parties (PRPs), 42 U.S.C. §§ 9607 (a)(1)-(4), [****6] with a cause of action to recover costs from other PRPs. We hold that it does.
Courts have frequently grappled [***36] with whether and how PRPs may recoup CERCLA-related costs from other PRPs. The questions lie at the intersection of two statutory provisions--CERCLA §§ 107(a) and 113(f). Section 107(a) defines [*132] four categories of PRPs, 94 Stat. 2781, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9607(a)(1)-(4), and makes them liable for, among other things:
"(B) any other necessary costs of response incurred by any other person consistent with the national contingency plan." § 9607(a)(4)(A)-(B).
Enacted as part of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), 100 Stat. 1613, § 113(f) authorizes one PRP to sue another for contribution in certain circumstances. 42 U.S.C. § 9613(f).1
[****7] Prior to the advent of § 113(f)'s express contribution right, some courts held that § 107(a)(4)(B) provided a cause of action for a private party to recover voluntarily incurred response costs and to seek contribution after having been sued. See Cooper Industries, supra, at 161-162, 125 S. Ct. 577, 160 L. Ed. 2d 548 (collecting cases); Key Tronic Corp. v. United States, 511 U.S. 809, 816, n 7, 114 S. Ct. 1960, 128 L. Ed. 2d 797 (1994) same. After SARA's enactment, however, some Courts of Appeals believed it necessary to "direc[t] traffic between" §§ 107(a) and 113(f). 459 F.3d 827, 832 (CA8 2006) (case below). As a result, many Courts of Appeals held that § 113(f) was the exclusive remedy for PRPs. See Cooper Industries, supra, at 169, 125 S. Ct. 577, 160 L. Ed. 2d 548 (collecting cases). But as courts prevented PRPs from suing under § 107(a), they expanded § 113(f) to allow PRPs to seek "contribution" even in the absence of a suit under § 106 or § 107(a). Aviall Servs., Inc. v. [*133] Cooper Industries, Inc., 312 F.3d 677, 681 (CA5 2002) (en banc).
551 U.S. 128 *; 127 S. Ct. 2331 **; 168 L. Ed. 2d 28 ***; 2007 U.S. LEXIS 7718 ****; 75 U.S.L.W. 4408; 22 A.L.R. Fed. 2d 735; 37 ELR 20139; 64 ERC (BNA) 1385; 20 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. S 336
UNITED STATES, Petitioner v. ATLANTIC RESEARCH CORPORATION
Atl. Research Corp. v. United States, 459 F.3d 827, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 20557 (8th Cir. Ark., 2006)
costs, settlement, parties, court of appeals, private party, cause of action, cleanup costs, authorizes, equitable, reimbursement, provisions, permits, site
Environmental Law, CERCLA & Superfund, Enforcement, Cleanup Costs, Contribution Actions, General Overview, Potentially Responsible Parties, Cost Recovery Actions, Governments, Legislation, Interpretation, Operators & Owners, Strict Liability, Settlements, Statute of Limitations, Time Limitations, Torts, Multiple Defendants, Contribution