Consent Decree Does Not Shield Company From Contribution Action in State Court

摘要

A company's consent decree with the federal government over cleanup of groundwater contamination does not shield it against a state court action for contribution to a settlement regarding water treatment costs caused by the contamination, a federal district court has held (United States v. Reuland Electric Co., C.D. Cal., No. 2:08-cv-05618, 6/8/11). In its June 8 decision, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California said the treatment costs do not appear to be addressed in the consent decree.