Practice area: Environmental Litigation
The firm has a long history of representing families, businesses, communities, and government entities who have been injured as the result of pollution, chemical releases, and contamination of drinking water supplies.
Our recent representations include:
Cosco Busan Oil Spill Litigation
The firm represents fishermen whose abilities to earn a living have been harmed by the November 7, 2007 Cosco Busan Oil Spill. The spill caused the discharge of over 53,000 gallons of highly toxic bunker fuel into the San Francisco Bay. On January 4, 2011, a class wide settlement of the claims of commercial finfish fishermen ("Finfish Settlement") was submitted for preliminary approval to Judge John E. Munter of the Superior Court of California, State of California. The Finfish Settlement provides for $3.65 million in compensation for approximately 120 Bay Area commercial herring, halibut, surfperch, rockfish, live bait, and near offshore fishermen, and commercial sport charter fishing boat operators. The Finfish Settlement provides for the Defendants to separately pay for the costs of providing notice to class members and for the costs of administration of the settlement. CPM and co-counsel will file an application for an order from the Court requiring the Defendants to separately reimburse the litigation costs and attorneys fees incurred by CPM and co-counsel in pursuit of the action. Any such award will be separate from, and will have no effect on, the $3.65 million to be paid to fishermen. A hearing on the motion is scheduled to occur on January 25, 2010. On September 3, 2010, Judge Samuel Conti of the Northern District of California gave final approval to a class-wide settlement of the claims of commercial Dungeness crab fishermen represented by the firm and co-counsel. The settlement provides for final lump sum payments to class members that could equal tens of thousands of dollars on top of the tens of thousands of dollars those persons have already received for claims arising out of the closure of the fishery after the spill. Information regarding the settlement can be found at www.dungenesscrabsettlement.com. On August 6, 2009, Judge Munter granted a motion to certify a litigation class of San Francisco Bay commercial herring fishermen.Avila Beach Environmental Litigation
Jorgensen v. Unocal Corporation.
San Luis Obispo Superior Court
The firm represented residents of Avila Beach, California in action to redress damage caused by pollution throughout Avila Beach. Union Oil Company of California had permitted over 400,000 gallons of refined petroleum products beneath the small seaside town of Avila Beach. The firm was successful in representing the residents of the town, and our efforts led to the complete remediation and restoration of the town.Cambria Community Services District/Chevron Litigation
Cambria Community Services District v. Chevron Corporation
San Luis Obispo Superior Court
The Town of Cambria is considered the jewel of the Central Coast, a small community nestled amongst coast pines and steps away from the Pacific Ocean, San Simon, and the Central Coast wine region. A leak from a Chevron station contaminated the town’s drinking water supplies with MTBE, a gasoline additive which renders drinking water unusable. The firm was successful in securing a settlement for Cambria which permitted it to insure that alternate water sources were available for the community.Santa Maria Valley Litigation
These cases were brought on behalf of homeowners and families living in Santa Maria, California, an old oil field which was the setting of the film There Will be Blood. When production in the oil field tapered off, residential communities were constructed atop the old oil fields – and on top of the waste which the oil companies left behind. The firm has been successful in providing remedies to these families, who have been able to leave behind their polluted homes and communities and restart their lives.Voisinet Litigation
Voisinet, et al. v. Unocal, et al.
San Luis Obispo Superior Court Case No. CV080320
This action is brought on behalf of home developers for nuisance and fraud arising out of petroleum contamination.Bridgestone/Firestone Litigation
Dower, et al. v. Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC, et al.
N.D. Cal. 5:06-CV-06837
This action is brought on behalf of homeowners for toxic groundwater contamination released from the Crazy Horse Sanitary Landfill in Salinas, California.