Legal Document

543 U.S. 157 COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.v.AVIALL SERVICES, INC. No. 02-1192. Supreme Court of United States. Argued October 6, 2004. Decided December 13, The enabling clause § 113(f)(1) the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 1980 (CERCLA), as added by Superfund Amendments Reauthorization 1986 (SARA), provides that any person "may" seek contribution from other liable or potentially under CERCLA 107(a) "during following civil action" 106 (which authorizes Federal Government to compel responsible parties clean up contaminated areas, see Key Tronic Corp. v. States, 511 U. S. 809, 814), empowers recover its response costs persons (PRPs)). Section 113(f)(1)'s saving provides: "Nothing in this subsection shall diminish right bring an action for absence a under" 107. SARA also created separate express contribution, 113(f)(3)(B), "[a] who has resolved liability States State some all such administrative judicially approved settlement." Cooper Industries, Inc., owned four Texas properties until 1981, when it sold them Aviall Services, Inc. After operating those sites several years, discovered both had hazardous substances leaked into ground water. notified contamination, but neither nor took judicial measures cleanup. cleaned State's supervision third party, remains contractually $5 million more cleanup costs. filed against original complaint asserted, inter alia, claim cost recovery 113(f)(1). later amended to, among things, combine two claims single, joint that, pursuant 113(f)(1), sought PRP 107(a). Granting summary judgment, District held abandoned freestanding 107 claim, was unavailable because not been sued Fifth Circuit ultimately reversed, holding allows obtain PRPs regardless whether court reasoned part did mean "may only." Held: A private party may parties. Pp. 165-171. (a) does authorize Aviall's suit. This disagrees with argument word should be read permissively, following" is one, exclusive, instance which contribution. First, natural meaning context certain actions satisfy subsequent specified condition—i. e., occur action—and no others. Second, reading at time, existence action, would render entirely superfluous section's explicit condition, well permits after settlement. loath allow reading. See, e.g., Hibbs Winn, 542 88, 101. Congress have bothered specify conditions same time allowed absent conditions. change Court's conclusion. That clause's sole function clarify nothing "diminish" cause(s) exist independently thereby rebutting presumption provided exclusive cause available PRP. clause, however, itself establish expand brought what causes if any, outside Reading just before again violate settled rule must, possible, construe statute give every operative effect. In light provisions specifying 3-year limitations periods beginning date 113(g)(3)(A), settlement, 113(g)(3)(B), provision cases judgment settlement never occurs supports conclusion assert 113(f), must either 113(f)(3)(B). Given clear CERCLA's text, there need resolve parties' dispute about purpose consult all. See Oncale Sundowner Offshore 523 75, 79. Because subject 107(a), claim. 165-168. (b) declines address first 107(a)(4)(B) even though view importance issue, question waived briefing decisions courts below, prepared solely on basis dictum Tronic. 168-170. (c) addition, decide implied To extent chooses frame remand (as opposed recovery), notes visited before, see, Radcliff Materials, 451 630, 638-647, enacting explicitly recognized particular set (claims actions) rights previously common law, cf. Transamerica Mortgage Advisors, Lewis, 444 11, 19. 170-171. 312 F. 3d 677, reversed remanded. THOMAS, J., delivered opinion Court, REHNQUIST, C. O'CONNOR, SCALIA, KENNEDY, SOUTER, BREYER, JJ., joined. GINSBURG, dissenting opinion, STEVENS, joined, post, p. 171. CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR FIFTH CIRCUIT. William Bradford Reynolds argued petitioner. With him briefs were Lisa K. Hsiao, Dale E. Stephenson, Allen A. Kacenjar. Jeffrey P. Minear amicus curiae urging reversal. brief former Solicitor General Olson, Assistant Attorney Sansonetti, Deputy Hungar, Clark, Paul Weiland. Richard O. Faulk respondent. Cynthia J. Bishop, M. Gaba, Walter Dellinger, Pamela Harris.* JUSTICE THOMAS Court. 1 (CERCLA)1 undertaken efforts CERCLA. specifies issue we nevertheless We hold not. 2 * Under CERCLA, 94 Stat. 2767, area itself, 104, perform cleanup, 106(a). 814 (1994). case, 107, 42 9607 (2000 ed. Supp. I), "cost recovery" section lists classes (PRPs) they "shall liable" for, "all removal remedial incurred . inconsistent national contingency plan." 107(a)(4)(A).2 further "any necessary consistent 107(a)(4)(B). 3 enactment 1980, litigation arose over addition allowing PRPs, PRPs. More specifically, costs, done so voluntarily suit, Various predecessors authorized action. e. g., Wickland Oil Terminals Asarco, 792 2d 887, 890-892 (CA9 1986); Walls Waste Resource Corp., 761 311, 317-318 (CA6 1985); Philadelphia Stepan Chemical Co., 544 1135, 1140-1143 (ED Pa. 1982). 4 passage, ensued entity (by another PRP) could As originally enacted contained expressly providing number Courts nonetheless although mention "contribution," impliedly statute, matter federal law. New Castle County, 642 1258, 1263-1269 (Del. 1986) (contribution arises law); Colorado ASARCO, 608 1484, 1486-1493 (Colo. 1985) (same); Wehner Syntex Agribusiness, 616 27, 31 Mo. 107(e)(2)). debatable refused recognize common-law statutes. 638-647 (1981) (refusing Sherman Clayton Act); Northwest Airlines, Transport Workers, 77, 90-99 Equal Pay 1963 Title VII Civil Rights 1964). 5 subsequently 100 1613, provide codified 113(f)(1): 6 "Any 9607(a) title, during 9606 title title. Such accordance Rules Procedure, governed resolving claims, allocate using equitable factors determines are appropriate. Nothing title." Id., 1647, 9613(f)(1). 7 short, SARA, circumstances, §§ 113(f)(3)(B).3 II 8 case concerns aircraft engine maintenance Texas. operated years. Ultimately, facilities petroleum water through underground storage tanks spills. 9 Natural Conservation Commission (Commission) contamination. informed violating state environmental laws, directed site, threatened pursue enforcement failed undertake remediation. Neither EPA, 10 supervision, 1984. 1995 1996, approximately costs; total greater. August 1997, Northern Texas, seeking asserted state-law claims. complaint, combining alleged entitled Cooper, connection facilities.4 continued well. 11 Both moved granted Cooper's motion. Aviall, having only relief Having dismissed declined exercise jurisdiction 12 divided panel Appeals affirmed. 263 134 (2001). majority, relying principally language sentence "a pending adjudged order it." 145. dissent final clarified survived 148-150 (opinion Wiener, J.). 13 On rehearing en banc, vote, 677 (2002). "[s]ection suits last sentence[,] states without qualification `nothing' `diminish' person's action." 681. 686-687. Three members banc dissented essentially reasons given majority. 691-693 Garza, certiorari, 540 1099 (2004), now reverse. III 14 sentence, establishes title," 9613(f)(1) (emphasis added). conditions, namely, 15 answers disagree. noted, actions—ones condition—and 16 relatedly, then included condition. words, superfluous, something do. 101 (2004). Likewise, equally superfluous. There reason why bother 17 our rebuts action; Nordic Village, 503 30, 35-36 (1992). 18 Our follows simply whole 113. noted above, 113 avenues contribution: ("during 113(f)(3)(B) (after resolves State). 113(g)(3) corresponding actions, one 113(g)(3)(B). Notably starting period occurs, purely voluntary lack 19 Each side insists bolsters said: "[I]t laws rather than principal legislators governed." 79 (1998). undisputed action.5 therefore B 20 Lockheed Martin contend alternative us hold. decline issue. panel, sitting considered fact, "combined" 107/§ complaint. consolidated "not independent action," "to maintain viable claim." Civ. Action 3:97-CV-1926-D (ND Tex., Jan. 2000), App. Pet. Cert. 94a, n. 2. Consequently saw likewise concluded longer advanced standalone 3d, 137, found unnecessary rely instead 685, 15. Thus, waiver let alone merits 21 "We ordinarily do issues decided below." Adarand Constructors, Mineta, 534 103, 109 (2001) (per curiam) (internal quotation marks omitted). Although deviated exceptional Mendenhall, 446 544, 551-552, (1980), circumstances here cut underlying (if waived) depend relationship between significant own right. It beyond scope and, indeed, presented, asks 113(f)(1)." i. preliminary merit full consideration below. 22 Furthermore, cite numerous liability. Bedford Affiliates Sills, 156 416, 423-424 (CA2 1998); Centerior Serv. Co. Acme Scrap Iron & Metal 153 344, 349-356 Pneumo Abex High Point, T D. R. 142 769, 776 (CA4 Pinal Creek Group Newmont Mining 118 1298, 1301-1306 1997); County Halliburton NUS 111 1116, 1120-1124 (CA3 Redwing Carriers, Saraland Apartments, 1489, 1496, (CA11 1996); 50 1530, 1534-1536 (CA10 1995); Technologies Browning-Ferris 33 96, 98-103 (CA1 1994). consider these correct, flagged briefed. And might issues, briefed, seeks share fairly chargeable form several. think prudent withhold matters. 23 prepared—as it—to attorney's fees "`necessary response'" within S., 818-821. But relevance, Tronic's status confront discussing classify precisely dissent's descriptions decision reveal. Post, 172 J.) (describing recognizing "`seek costs'" (quoting 818), paragraph saying identified "right contribution"). "Questions merely lurk record, attention ruled upon, constitute precedents." Webster Fall, 266 507, (1925). recognizes fuller examination claim; requested instance. C 24 leaving open Part III-B, supra, Portions Circuit's below taken endorse latter 687; others appear reserve exists, id., recovery),6 note before. 638-647; 90-99. Cf. (1979). Nonetheless, today passage SARA. 25 26 support reverse proceedings opinion. 27 ordered. Notes: Briefs ofamici affirmance York et al. Eliot Spitzer, York, Caitlin Halligan, General, Robert H. Easton, Peter Lehner, Karen Kaufmann, Gordon Johnson, Attorneys Anabelle Rodríguez, Secretary Justice Puerto Rico, their respective follows: Terry Goddard Arizona, Bill Lockyer California, Ken Salazar Colorado, Blumenthal Connecticut, Jane Brady Delaware, Madigan Illinois, Charles Foti, Jr., Louisiana, Thomas Reilly Massachusetts, Michael Cox Michigan, Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon Missouri, Mike McGrath Montana, Brian Sandoval Nevada, Wayne Stenehjem North Dakota, Jim Petro Ohio, Drew Edmondson Oklahoma, Gerald Pappert Pennsylvania, Patrick Lynch Rhode Island, Henry McMaster South Carolina, G. Summers Tennessee, Christine Gregoire Washington, Peggy Lautenschlager Wisconsin, Crank Wyoming; Atlantic Richfield Joel Gross Albert Cohen; ConocoPhillips Bress, John McGahren, David Becker, L. Mulliken; Miguel Estrada, Andrew Tulumello, James Buckley; Settlements Project Steinberg, Harry Ng, Ralph Colleli, Kenneth Meade, Weissman, Ackerman. refer throughout, most part, sections Code plan procedures preparing responding contaminations promulgated Protection Agency (EPA) 105, 9605 I). 40 CFR pt. 300 (2004) InKey 809 (1994), observed "similar somewhat overlapping" remedies. 816. remedy similar general level recoup remedies clearly distinct. asserts framed manner compelled precedent type claimGeraghty Miller, Conoco 234 917, 924 (2000); also, 349-353 Sun Browning-Ferris, 124 1187, 1191 1301-1302 1997). 106; thus, qualify "civil 9607(a)" 28 whom STEVENS joins, dissenting. 29 purchased property substances. Shortly purchase, institute remediate property. promptly site reimbursement Cooper. my view, unnecessarily defers entitlement 30 818 Members agreed 9607, "unquestionably [potentially (PRPs)] costs." rested determination squarely 107(a)(4)(B), cleaning waste portion CERCLA.1 divided, implicit 107(a)'s majority determined, confers right, dissenters urged. stated: "implies—but command—that [a PRP] treated tortfeasors." 818, maintained: "Section states, can be, `[c]overed person.' Surely say creation 822. expressed slightest doubt indeed enable sue covered reimbursement, legitimately incurred. 32 federal-law cost-recovery 8A, 16A-17A. pleadings, underpinning 27A, 48A. use tandem conformed pleading then-governing precedent, operation Geraghty (2000) ("[W]hile 113(f) vehicle bringing create new liabilities. Rather, mechanism apportioning recoverable 107." (footnote omitted)). obliged circuit plead way hardly deemed plea maintained law permitted so. ante, 168-169. supplied prescribed procedural framework. 683, (2002) (en banc) (stating "impliedly contribution" "govern[s] regulate[s]" (citing 924) omitted)); (calling governance "Federal law" application "the Procedure," "[i]n appropriate"). Notably, urged conclude excluded suit adjudicated Response Appellant Amicus Curiae Brief 00-10197 (CA5), ("[P]arties broader [covering contribution] 107(a)."); Tronic, 816 ("[T]he overlapping 107."). 34 I protracting requiring revisit made already: courts, prior correctly "recover [under 107] proportionate PRPs," 687;2 retracts ibid. (noting 113(f)'s preserves preexisting including 816). Accordingly, defer definitive ruling PRP, $1.2 allegedly "at initiative."Key 984 1025, 1026 1993). (EPA), EPA's involvement, remediation figure 1026-1027; 811-812 refers,ante, 171, 630 (1981), 77 implication Industries concerned Acts, 639-646; 1964, suitable statutory necessarily carry different setting.

Classification Label: 7