Opinion ID: 1213751
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Levin Metals Cases.

Text: The three remaining actions  Parr-Richmond Terminal Co. v. Levin Metals Corp. (U.S. Dist. Ct. (N.D.Cal.)) No. C-85-4776 SC, Levin Metals Corp. v. Parr-Richmond Terminal Co. (U.S. Dist. Ct. (N.D.Cal.)) Nos. C-84-6273 SC and 84-6324 SC, and Levin Metals Corp. v. Parr-Richmond Terminal Co. (Super. Ct. Contra Costa County, No. 255836)  are all interrelated. Each arises out of a state court action brought by Levin Metals against Parr-Richmond, alleging that real property sold by Parr-Richmond to Levin Metals in Contra Costa County in 1981 was contaminated by hazardous waste. [8] The suits allege both on-site and off-site contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water, and seek damages for fraud based on Parr-Richmond's failure to disclose the alleged contamination. All chemical processing at the Parr-Richmond Terminal site ceased in 1964 or 1965; the basis of Montrose's alleged CERCLA liability is that it shipped chemicals to the site prior to that time, which chemicals were then formulated into chemical products by an independent company, and that the formulator's disposal of chemical waste byproducts in turn caused or contributed to the contamination. According to the plaintiffs in the Levin Metals cases, the environmental contamination at the Parr-Richmond site was discovered by them no later than August 1982. After the lawsuits were filed, Parr-Richmond cross-complained against Montrose and others for contribution and indemnity. Although the Levin Metals cases were further complicated by Parr-Richmond's efforts to avoid CERCLA liability and other related federal actions, for purposes of this appeal we need focus only on the lawsuits filed against Montrose for indemnity and contribution for allegedly contaminating the property in question in Contra Costa County during a period beginning in 1947, and continuing through the effective dates of Admiral's policy periods.