Opinion ID: 2487056
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Heading: Federal Preemption Law

Text: With regard to federal preemption, the United States Supreme Court has stated: Pre-emption may be either express or implied, and `is compelled whether Congress' command is explicitly stated in the statute's language or implicitly contained in its structure and purpose.' Shaw v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., 463 U.S. 85, 95 [103 S.Ct. 2890, 77 L.Ed.2d 490] (1983) (quoting Fidelity Federal Savings & Loan Assn. v. De [de] la Cuesta, 458 U.S. 141, 152-153 [102 S.Ct. 3014, 73 L.Ed.2d 664] (1982), in turn quoting Jones v. Rath Packing Co., 430 U.S. 519, 525, [97 S.Ct. 1305, 51 L.Ed.2d 604] (1977)); see also Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 842-843 [104 S.Ct. 2778, 81 L.Ed.2d 694] (1984) (If the intent of Congress is clear, that is the end of the matter; for the court ... must give effect to the unambiguously expressed intent of Congress (footnote omitted)). We begin with the language employed by Congress and the assumption that the ordinary meaning of that language accurately expresses the legislative purpose. Park `N Fly, Inc. v. Dollar Park and Fly, Inc., 469 U.S. 189, 194 [105 S.Ct. 658, 83 L.Ed.2d 582] (1985). FMC Corp. v. Holliday, 498 U.S. 52, 56-57, 111 S.Ct. 403, 112 L.Ed.2d 356 (1990). Where a federal law does not expressly preempt state law, preemption may be inferred only where the scheme of federal regulation is sufficiently comprehensive to make reasonable the inference that Congress left no room for supplementary state regulation. Rice v. Santa Fe Elevator Corp., 331 U.S. 218, 230 [67 S.Ct. 1146, 91 L.Ed. 1447] (1947). Pre-emption of a whole field also will be inferred where the field is one in which the federal interest is so dominant that the federal system will be assumed to preclude enforcement of state laws on the same subject. Ibid. Even where Congress has not completely displaced state regulation in a specific area, state law is nullified to the extent that it actually conflicts with federal law. Such a conflict arises when compliance with both federal and state regulations is a physical impossibility, Florida Lime & Avocado Growers, Inc. v. Paul, 373 U.S. 132, 142-143 [83 S.Ct. 1210, 10 L.Ed.2d 248] (1963), or when state law stands as an obstacle to the accomplishment and execution of the full purposes and objectives of Congress, Hines v. Davidowitz, [312 U.S. 52, 67, 61 S.Ct. 399, 85 L.Ed. 581 (1941)]. Hillsborough Cnty. v. Automated Med. Labs., Inc., 471 U.S. 707, 713, 105 S.Ct. 2371, 85 L.Ed.2d 714 (1985) (citation omitted). The United States Supreme Court has further explained that preemption is very carefully scrutinized when it touches upon areas traditionally governed by state law: [B]ecause the States are independent sovereigns in our federal system, we have long presumed that Congress does not cavalierly pre-empt state-law causes of action. In all pre-emption cases, and particularly in those in which Congress has legislated ... in a field which the States have traditionally occupied, Rice v. Santa Fe Elevator Corp., 331 U.S. 218, 230 [67 S.Ct. 1146, 91 L.Ed. 1447] (1947), we start with the assumption that the historic police powers of the States were not to be superseded by the Federal Act unless that was the clear and manifest purpose of Congress. Ibid. Medtronic, Inc. v. Lohr, 518 U.S. 470, 485, 116 S.Ct. 2240, 135 L.Ed.2d 700 (1996). In situations where Congress has legislated in an area traditionally relegated to the states, the United States Supreme Court has determined that, where the text of a preemption clause is susceptible of more than one possible interpretation, courts ordinarily apply the interpretation that disfavors preemption. See Altria Group, Inc. v. Good, 555 U.S. 70, 129 S.Ct. 538, 543, 172 L.Ed.2d 398 (2008). Tort law is one area that is clearly and traditionally regulated by the states. See, e.g., Desiano v. Warner-Lambert & Co., 467 F.3d 85, 94 (2d Cir.2006) (holding that state-based tort liability falls within a state's prerogative to regulate matters of health and safety, which is a sphere in which the presumption against preemption applies, indeed, stands at its strongest), aff'd by an equally divided court sub nom. Warner-Lambert Co., LLC v. Kent, 552 U.S. 440, 128 S.Ct. 1168, 170 L.Ed.2d 51 (2008) (per curiam); Abbot v. American Cyanamid Co., 844 F.2d 1108, 1112 (4th Cir.1988) (The presumption against preemption is even stronger against preemption of state remedies, like tort recoveries, when no federal remedy exists. (citing Silkwood v. Kerr-McGee Corp., 464 U.S. 238, 251, 104 S.Ct. 615, 78 L.Ed.2d 443 (1984))). Consistent with this principle, the federal statutes that govern aviation commerce and safety contain a savings clause which provides: A remedy under this part is in addition to any other remedies provided by law. 49 U.S.C. § 40120(c) (1994). [3] At issue in this case is whether the federal law currently codified at 49 U.S.C. § 44112 preempts Florida state law with regard to the liability of aircraft owners under the dangerous instrumentality doctrine and, if it does, how broadly the scope of that preemption covers.