Environmental Litigation and Enforcement

Calfee’s Environmental litigators aim to achieve our clients’ objectives in litigation and administrative proceedings. Our experience covers the full spectrum of federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations and contract, insurance, and indemnity disputes. As with any dispute, litigation can be burdensome to the daily operations and bottom line of any organization and can affect all stakeholders. Calfee’s litigators have helped clients manage the burden and obtain successful outcomes.

Our Environmental litigators have extensive experience with complex litigation and dispute resolution proceedings under Superfund and in private cost recovery, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act.

We also are well-versed in all related state and common law claims such as nuisance and trespass, citizen suits, and toxic torts. Our clients are engaged in a variety of businesses including metals manufacturing and finishing, waste disposal and wastewater treatment, real estate lending and development, chemical and plastics manufacturing, industrial gases, paints and coatings, and minerals and mining.

Noteworthy

Chambers USA, Band 3 Ranking in Litigation: General Commercial (Ohio)

For well over a decade, our Litigation group and individual litigation attorneys have been ranked and recognized by Chambers USA. In 2020, Chambers USA researchers noted that the team "frequently advises on plaintiff and defense-side commercial litigation matters, offering considerable strengths in securities, product liability, antitrust and construction disputes." They also offer experience in white-collar investigations and litigation, "defending a range of individuals and businesses facing regulatory enforcement actions." And they represent "clients in sectors including healthcare, financial services and manufacturing."

"One client praises the team as 'experienced, insightful, practical, efficient and client-oriented.' They continue, 'When you pose a question, you can rest assured that they will respond promptly with cogent, clear and practical responses.'"

"Another client praises the Litigation group for providing 'high-quality and cost-effective legal advice; the team has been crucial to our litigation defense, and we have been very happy with all of their efforts.'"

Chambers researchers noted that a commentator stated, "This is an excellent firm that does a great job for us. The team is cost-effective, practical and has strong expertise."

William E. Coughlin, Litigation Partner and Co-Leader of the Environmental Law practice, has been ranked by Chambers USA 2020 in Natural Resources & Environment, Band 4, Ohio. "William Coughlin is 'an expert in environmental litigation,' where he is praised for his ability to 'leverage his vast experience to identify and exploit deficiencies in claims to achieve favorable settlements.' He regularly represents corporate and public sector clients in Superfund matters.'"

Environmental Law attorney, Christopher Jones, is ranked in Band 2, Natural Resources & Environment in Ohio by Chambers USA 2020. "Christopher Jones's strengths include 'his great knowledge of the local regulatory environment and procedures,' where he benefits from prior experience serving as the Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. He provides market-leading expertise in various permitting, compliance and remediation matters.'"

K. James Sullivan, Litigation Partner and Leader of the Insurance Coverage practice, has been ranked in Band 1 in Insurance by Chambers USA 2020. "James Sullivan is held in high esteem as 'one of the best policyholder lawyers' in Ohio. He is also praised for his 'sophisticated and diplomatic' approach to complex recovery claims, which sees him handle a wide range of coverage disputes. One source reports, 'He does an excellent job in analyzing situations and getting a good result. He is smart, well respected and capable in the courtroom.'"

U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms” Rankings

Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2021 "Best Law Firms" rankings by U.S. News – Best Lawyers in Environmental Law (Metropolitan Tier 2 Columbus, Metropolitan Tier 3 Cleveland) and several Litigation practice areas.

Benchmark Litigation Rankings

Calfee has been selected for inclusion by Benchmark Litigation 2020 as a "Recommended" litigation firm in Ohio. Several of Calfee's Litigation attorneys have been ranked as Leading Litigators by Benchmark Litigation 2020.

Professionals

Experience

• Represented a publicly traded metals manufacturer on contractual recovery of $20 million from its seller to pay for plant site remediation of TCE contamination.
• Represented a closely held coatings company and its principal in a state-led felony prosecution relating to alleged hazardous waste disposal.
• Represented a publicly traded industrial gases manufacturer in litigation and administrative proceedings relating to a multi-party Superfund site where on-site incineration was a component of the remedy.
• Represented a Fortune 500 chemical and plastics manufacturer in litigation and administrative proceedings relating to a multi-party Superfund site involving claims of surface water, stream sediment and wetlands contamination.
• Represented a subsidiary of a Fortune 200 chemical manufacturer in administrative and contempt proceedings brought by the State of Ohio relating to a RCRA closure and groundwater remediation.
• Represent a wholly-owned subsidiary of a global chemical company in its participation in the precedent-setting Great Lakes Legacy Act $82 million cleanup (alternative to Superfund) of the Ashtabula River.
• Represent a publicly traded ferrous metals foundry in defense of claims brought by two paper companies relating contribution for the $1.5 billion cleanup of PCB contamination in the Lower Fox River System in Wisconsin.
• Represented a State of Ohio department in its claims against a fuel tank farm owner and operator relating to one of the largest gasoline spills in Ohio history and its contamination of the neighboring Maumee River Crossing (interstate highway) construction project.
• Represented a former paper manufacturer in defense of a CERCLA private cost recovery, RCRA citizen suit and state statutory contract common law claims relating to the alleged multi-million-dollar PCB cleanup of former paper mill facilities.
• Represent a Fortune 1000 paint, coatings and related products holding company with respect to the nationwide management of its operating subsidiaries’ off-site and legacy environmental liabilities.
• Represented a large Ohio municipality in defense of Clean Water Act SSO/CSO claims brought by Ohio and the United States resulting in a Consent Decree resolving thousands of days of violations with a $60,000 civil penalty and an extended construction schedule patterned after the city’s long-term control plan.

Representative Clients

We are proud to have represented public and private companies such as the following:

• Buckingham Coal Company
• Chase Brass & Copper Company
• Neenah Foundry Company
• Praxair, Inc.
• RPM International Inc.
• Union Carbide Corporation

We also serve the State of Ohio, Ohio municipalities, and other government entities.