Natural Resources

Oil spills. Toxic waste. Pesticides. These and other chemical contaminants can have devastating and long-lasting economic and health consequences on people and businesses, whether in urban, suburban, or rural communities. Sher Edling has a record of strong trial advocacy and results-oriented settlements for public entities across the country against the corporate and federal government defendants responsible for these types of harms, especially under CERCLA and other environmental enforcement laws. The CERCLA matters arise out of legacy and ambient contamination on or connected to properties impacting soil or groundwater. Some of our recent and ongoing work in this area includes:

• Securing more than $65 million in consent judgments and settlements arising out of drinking water contaminated by historic industrial operations conducted by the US Navy and Northrop Grumman.
• Obtaining $630 million in infrastructure improvements to abate transboundary water contamination flowing into U.S. waters from the Tijuana River watershed on the Mexican side of the border. City of Imperial Beach et al. v. International Boundary & Water Commission et al., No. 18-cv-457 (S.D. Cal.).
• Serving as trial counsel for the State of California arising out of its largest-ever contaminated site cleanup, which was caused by airborne lead emissions. California Dep’t of Toxic Substances Control v. NL Indus., Inc. et al., No. 2:20-11293 (C.D. Cal.).