Opinion ID: 174796
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: The owners of property near the former Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant (Rocky Flats) filed a class action against the facility's operators under the Price-Anderson Act (PAA), alleging trespass and nuisance claims arising from the release of plutonium particles onto their properties. The district court conducted a lengthy trial, resulting in a jury verdict in favor of the plaintiff class. After a series of post-trial motions, the district court entered judgment in favor of Plaintiffs, awarding a total of just over $926 million, inclusive of compensatory damages, punitive damages, and prejudgment interest. Defendants, Dow Chemical Company (Dow) and Rockwell International Corporation (Rockwell), timely appealed the judgment, and the class members filed a timely cross-appeal. Exercising appellate jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, this court REVERSES and REMANDS the case to the district court. We DIRECT the district court to vacate the judgment and conduct further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.