No. 18-1160

Teck Metals Ltd., fka Teck Cominco Metals, Ltd. v. The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, et al.

Lower Court: Ninth Circuit
Docketed: 2019-03-06
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (3) Experienced Counsel
Tags: arranger-liability cercla cercla-arranger-liability cross-border-pollution environmental-liability extraterritorial-application first-circuit-conflict first-circuit-split morrison-v-national-australia-bank personal-jurisdiction rjr-nabisco-v-european-community walden-v-fiore waste-disposal
Key Terms:
Environmental SocialSecurity JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2019-06-06
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the Ninth Circuit correctly concluded that holding Teck liable for its discharges in Canada was not an impermissible extraterritorial application of CERCLA

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED Petitioner Teck Metals Ltd. (Teck) owns a smelter that has operated in British Columbia, Canada for over a century. During that time, Teck and its predecessors have reached agreements with U.S. authorities, with the support of the Canadian government, to address cross-border air and water pollution concerns associated with the smelter’s operations. Respondents nevertheless brought private suits under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) for declaratory relief, response costs, and natural-resource damages for smelter discharges into the Columbia River in Canada that were carried into and ultimately settled in Washington State. The questions presented are: 1. Whether the Ninth Circuit, in conflict with Morrison v. National Australia Bank Ltd., 561 U.S. 247 (2010), and RJR Nabisco, Inc. v. European Community, 136 S. Ct. 2090 (2016), correctly concluded that holding Teck liable for its discharges in Canada was not an impermissible extraterritorial application of CERCLA. 2. Whether the Ninth Circuit, in conflict with this Court’s decision in Walden v. Fiore, 571 U.S. 277 (2014), and the Second, Fifth, and Seventh Circuits, correctly held that a State may exercise specific personal jurisdiction over a defendant because the defendant knew its conduct would have in-state effects, where the defendant’s relevant conduct occurred elsewhere. (i) ll 3. Whether the Ninth Circuit, in conflict with the First Circuit and in tension with the opinions of this Court and several other circuits, correctly held that a defendant can be an “arranger” under CERCLA even if the defendant did not arrange for anyone else to dispose of or treat the waste.

Docket Entries

2019-06-10
Petition DENIED.
2019-05-21
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/6/2019.
2019-05-20
Reply of petitioner Teck Metals Ltd., formerly known as Teck Cominco Metals, Ltd. filed.
2019-05-06
Brief of respondent State of Washington in opposition filed.
2019-05-06
Brief of respondent The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in opposition filed.
2019-04-05
Brief amicus curiae of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of British Columbia filed.
2019-04-05
Brief amicus curiae of The Government of Canada filed.
2019-04-05
Brief amici curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, et al. filed.
2019-04-04
The motions to extend the time to file responses are granted and the time is extended to and including May 6, 2019, for all respondents.
2019-04-02
Motion to extend the time to file a response from April 5, 2019 to May 6, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
2019-03-29
Motion to extend the time to file a response from April 5, 2019 to May 6, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
2019-03-22
Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Teck Metals Ltd., formerly known as Teck Cominco Metals, Ltd.
2019-03-04
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 5, 2019)

Attorneys

Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, et al.
John Patrick ElwoodVinson & Elkins, LLP, Amicus
Ronald Jay TenpasVinson & Elkins LLP, Amicus
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Rex S. HeinkeAkin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP, Amicus
State of Washington
Noah Guzzo PurcellOffice of the Attorney General, Respondent
Jay Douglas GeckWashington Office of the Attorney General, Respondent
Teck Metals Ltd., formerly known as Teck Cominco Metals, Ltd.
Catherine Emily StetsonHogan Lovells US LLP, Petitioner
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Paul J. DaytonOgden Murphy Wallace P.L.L.C., Respondent
The Government of Canada
Malcolm Seymour IIIGarvey Schubert Barer, P.C., Amicus