Contribution claims brought under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) are not barred by prior environmental litigation if the property at issue and types of claims brought are distinct from previous claims. GP Vincent III v. Estate of Beard, No. 21-16555 (9th. Cir. May 17, 2023).

Defendants leased the subject property

The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a wide-ranging decision regarding the rights of homeowners affected by Superfund response actions, ruling that they are bound by CERCLA’s ban on additional remedial actions beyond those authorized by the EPA. The case, Atlantic Research Company v. Christian et al., 590 U.S. ___ (April 20, 2020), concerned historical releases