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California Department Of Toxic Substances Control V. Westside Delivery, Llc, Mitch L. Werbell V
California Department Of Toxic Substances Control V. Westside Delivery, Llc, Mitch L. Werbell V
Public Land & Resources Law Review
The Ninth Circuit’s recent decision in California Department of Toxic Substances Control v. Westside Delivery, LLC reminds prospective purchasers of tax-defaulted property of their responsibility for due diligence.The case addressed the reach of the third-party defense to a CERCLA cost recovery action. The court determined that CERCLA’s third-party defense did not apply to a company which purchased a contaminated property at a tax auction because of its “contractual relationship” with the former owner-polluter and because the relevant contaminating acts occurred “in connection with” the prior polluter’s ownership of the site.