Environmental Law Commons^™

Legal Ethics In Capital Cases: Looking For Virtue In Roberts V. Dretke And Assessing The Ethical Implications Of The Death Row Volunteer The Fourth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility: Comment., J. Caleb Rackley

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

The First Marketable Product Doctrine: Just What Is The Product., Byron C. Keeling, Karolyn King Gillespie

St. Mary's Law Journal

Oil and gas leases normally do not set a fixed price for calculating royalty payments. Instead, oil and gas leases commonly tie royalty calculations to a more flexible yardstick, including “market value” or “net proceeds”. This flexibility allows the lease relationship to survive any dramatic volatility in oil and gas prices, while the same fixed price may be inadequate in shifting markets. Conversely, the flexibility may place lessors and lessees in a position of inherent conflict. In particular, parties vehemently disagree about the proper location for applying the yardstick. Historically, lessees have enjoyed the better side of the argument; though, …

Environmental Law, Eleventh Circuit Survey, Travis M. Trimble

Scholarly Works

In 2004 courts in the Eleventh Circuit addressed several Clean Water Act issues. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals arguably expanded the scope of the injuries a plaintiff may allege to have standing to sue under the Clean Water Act. The court held that the federal court had jurisdiction over a Clean Water Act citizen suit alleging violations of a permit issued by the State of Georgia under its permitting program authorized under the Act. The Eleventh Circuit also addressed whether a Florida state regulation effectively revised or added to the state's Clean Water Act, which mandated water quality standards, …

Lessons From The World Trade Center For Open Space Planning Generally And Boston's Big Data Specifically, Mary Clark

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

This paper looks to several land use planning issues at stake in both the World Trade Center redevelopment and Central Artery/ Tunnel Project, offering some lessons for the future of public open space planning with respect to the inºuence of the press, the centrality of politics, the urgency of addressing public and private claims of land ownership, the need to engage the public, and seizing the opportunity to create new public transportation links.

Comparative Land Use Law: Patterns Of Sustainability, John R. Nolon

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

Land use scholars and practitioners in the United States trace the development of domestic land use law to 1916, when the City of New York adopted the nation's first comprehensive zoning law, and then on to 1926 when the U.S. Supreme Court declared zoning constitutional in Euclid v. Ambler Realty. Some have studied European influences stemming from late nineteenth century regulations and the urban design principles imported from the great cities of the era. Others know about the catastrophic London fire of 1666 and how it transformed society's understanding of why individual property rights, to some degree, must be subject …

Theme And Variations In Statutory Preclusions Against Successive Environmental Enforcement Actions By Epa And Citizens, Part Two: Statutory Preclusions On Epa Enforcement, Jeffrey G. Miller

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

This is the second half of a two-part Article focusing on preclusions against successive enforcement of the environmental statutes. Part One of the Article, printed in Volume 28 of this Journal, examined preclusions against citizen suits and argued that because of the theme-and-variations nature of the preclusion language, that language should be read in accordance with its plain meaning. Part Two, published in this issue, studies the restrictions on enforcement actions by the EPA and reaches the same conclusion.

The Supreme Court's Water Pollution Jurisprudence: Is The Court All Wet?, Jeffrey G. Miller

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

Part I of this article sets the stage with a brief survey of federal water pollution control, focusing on the CWA. Part II examines statistical conclusions and inferences from a cursory review of the Court's CWA opinions. Part III examines some of the opinions in a more qualitative manner to determine whether the statistical conclusions withstand analysis and whether the Court understands the CWA. The latter determination requires examining the nature and severity of the Court's misinterpretations of the statute. Part IV examines the Court's decisions with anti-environmental results to determine whether they reflect an anti-environmental bias or the other …

Is Voting Necessary? Organization Standing And Non-Voting Members Of Environmental Advocacy Organizations, Karl S. Coplan

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

This article will examine the law of standing, and specifically, the conflicting decisions concerning the importance of voting rights in order to establish organizational standing. The article concludes that voting rights should not be essential to the assertion of representational standing. Nevertheless, the article will also consider alternate forms of organization that will improve an organization's chances of establishing representational standing, while addressing the concerns that lead organizations to avoid a voting membership in the first place.

The Spiritual Values Of Wilderness, John Copeland Nagle

Journal Articles

The Wilderness Act of 1964 is the principal legal mechanism for preserving wilderness in the United States. The law now protects over 100 million acres of federal land, half of which is in Alaska. Yet the contested meaning of the term wilderness continues to affect the management of those wilderness areas, and the designation of additional lands as wilderness areas. Much current thinking about wilderness emphasizes the ecological and recreational interests that Congress cited when it enacted the law. These justifications for wilderness preservation are important, but they are incomplete. They are best supplemented by a better understanding of the …

Order Without Social Norms: How Personal Norm Activation Can Protect The Environment, Michael P. Vandenbergh

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

This Article tackles a leading problem confronting norms theorists and regulators: how can the law induce changes in behavior when the material costs to the individual outweigh the benefits and there is no close-knit community to impose sanctions for failure to change? Because private individuals and households are now surprisingly large contributors to environmental problems ranging from toxic pollution to climate change, environmental policy makers face compelling examples of these negative-payoff, loose-knit group situations. This Article suggests that internalized personal norms, rather than social norms, are the most important initial target of opportunity for influencing this kind of behavior.

Drawing …

Litigating Global Warming: Substantive Law In Search Of A Forum, Henry Mcgee

Faculty Articles

In response to the obstruction by the United States of the Kyoto protocols and its subsequent agreements, American environmental NGOs and state governments have filed a range of lawsuits to force the current U.S. administration, automobile manufacturers, and regulatory actors to combat global warming. This essay first very briefly sketches some of the strategies by litigants to force compliance with Kyoto, an agreement which reflects nearly all of the international community's desire to schedule reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The essay then describes a strategy that perhaps is the most conventional in terms of international law, but requires a nation …

The Effect Of A Harmless Error In Executing A Will: Why Texas Should Adopt Section 2-503 Of The Uniform Probate Court., Sean P. Milligan

St. Mary's Law Journal

Often, the validity of a will is called into question in situations where the testator failed to execute the will in compliance with statutory formalities, although the intent to create a will was present. In Texas, harmless errors in the execution of a will are not excused, and the testator must comply with the statutory formalities set out in the Probate Code. Strict judicial adherence to statutory formalities leads to unjust results in situations where it is relatively clear that the testator intended to create a will but failed to comply with the execution requirements. The failure to comply with …

Leveling The Legal Malpractice Playing Field: Reverse Bifurcation Of Trials The Fourth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Dwayne J. Hermes, Jeffrey W. Kemp, Paul B. Moore

St. Mary's Law Journal

The growing public demand for perfect results is shifting the time-tested obligation of lawyers to meet the standard of care. The general public no longer deems the advice and performance of professionals as beyond reproach. While this is probably a positive development, it appears that a number of clients (and patients) are raising the bar too high by expecting and demanding a perfect result. The legal malpractice suit is in vogue, and juries are increasingly holding attorneys to be guarantors of a favorable outcome for their clients. A significant portion of legal malpractice suits are merely thinly veiled claims for …

Securing One's Fourth Amendment Rights Through Issue Preclusion: Assessing Texas's Application Of Collateral Estoppel To Multiple Suppression Motions Filed In Separate Courts., Garrett T. Reece

St. Mary's Law Journal

This Comment will assess the split in Texas courts over the issue of collateral estoppel’s application in different motion to suppress hearings. By placing collateral estoppel within the confines of the Double Jeopardy Clause, federal law essentially extinguished one form of collateral estoppel and invented another form of the doctrine. Remnants of both forms are still alive, however, and Texas is one state in which both forms of collateral estoppel may be invoked in a criminal proceeding. Part II provides a historical analysis of the exclusionary rule, Double Jeopardy Clause, and collateral estoppel’s rise in criminal court. Part III addresses …

Judicial Regrets And The Case Of The Cushman Dam, William H. Rodgers, Jr.

Articles

This essay is a criticism of the Ninth Circuit's en banc decision in Skokomish Indian Tribe v. United States [401 F.3d 979 (9th Cir. 2005]. It finds particular fault with the court's understanding of Indian treaty rights as "something given," and its outlandish conclusion that fishing was not a "primary purpose" of the Stevens treaties.

The article further criticizes the court's treatment of the "continuing nuisance" doctrine that is applied to afford a statute of limitations defense to enterprises that did lasting environmental damage by diverting the entire North Fork of the Skokomish River out of the watershed.

It concludes …

The Exxon Valdez Reopener: Natural Resources Damage Settlements And Roads Not Taken, William H. Rodgers, Jr., J.B. Crosetto Iii, C.A. Holley, T.C. Kade, J.H. Kaufman, C.M. Kostelec, K.A. Michael, R.J. Sandberg, J.L. Schorr

Articles

The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill caused extensive natural resource damage to the Prince William Sound. Lawsuits addressing this natural resource damage resulted in a settlement that required Exxon to pay $900 million over time to trustees charged with spending this money to restore the damaged environment of the Sound and nearby areas. The settlement included a “Reopener Clause,” which pledges Exxon to spend an additional $100 million to fund restoration or rehabilitation of resources whose injuries were not foreseeable in 1989.

This Article urges the State of Alaska and the United States to seek enforcement of the Reopener Clause, …

Towards Conservation Of Submerged Lands: The Law And Policy Of Conservation Leasing And Ownership, The Nature Conservancy, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Marine Affairs Institute Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Much Ado About Nothing - Why Desert Palace Neither Murdered Mcdonnell Douglas Nor Transformed All Employment Discrimination Cases To Mixed-Motive Essay., Matthew R. Scott, Russell D. Chapman

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

Mind The Gap: Expansion Of Texas Governmental Immunity Between Takings And Tort., Jadd F. Masso

St. Mary's Law Journal

In Jennings v. City of Dallas, the city’s wastewater collection division was dispatched to unstop a clogged sewer main but instead caused sewage to spew into the Jennings’ home with dramatic force, causing extensive damage. The Jennings subsequently filed suit against the city, alleging its actions constituted an unconstitutional taking, damaging, or destruction of their property for public use without adequate compensation in violation of Article I, § 17 of the Texas Constitution. The issue presented from the case was whether an individual citizen should be liable for such losses when the damage—as an incident to governmental action—in effect benefits …

Good Cause In The Texas Rules Of Civil Procedure., Naomi Mccuistion

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Texas judiciary should give “good cause” a single meaning. Ambiguity exists concerning the phrase “good cause” amongst Texas courts. Three different standards of “good cause” currently exist in Texas including: the Stelly/Craddock standard, the Alvarado standard, and the Remington Arms standard. Under the Stelly/Craddock standard—if withdrawal of deemed admissions is requested—“good cause” is required showing the failure was unintentional as a result of an accident or mistake. Under the Alvarado standard—if the request is to offer testimony of a witness who was not timely identified—the court requires a more strict showing of “good cause” not satisfied by an attorney’s …

Unconstitutional Delegation Of Prosecutorial Discretion In Texas: The Pollution Of Environmental Violation Deterrents., Suzanne M. Jost

St. Mary's Law Journal

The split amongst Texas officials regarding how to address the growing problem of enforcing environmental laws can most clearly be seen in the legislation surrounding environmental crimes. The most notable aspect of the 2003 amendment to the Texas Water Code (TWC) requires permission from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) before criminal charges may be brought against permit holders for criminal violations. The purpose of TCEQ’s administrative penalties is to focus primarily on pushing companies into compliance with the code. Yet, the TWC amendment brings the entire spectrum of polluters, from corporate dumpers to individual litterbugs, under its primary …

Backdoor Non-Competes In Texas: Trade Secrets., Ted Lee, Leila Ben Debba

St. Mary's Law Journal

The unpredictability of court decisions on covenants not to compete is an attorney’s nightmare in Texas. The Texas Supreme Court's decision in Light v. Centel Cellular (Light II), holding that trade secrets may serve as independent consideration for a valid covenant not to compete, has only exacerbated the situation. Currently, attorneys and clients alike are at the mercy of judicial unpredictability. Texas courts have managed to muddle their own underlying public policy on covenants not to compete with trade secrets. During the years preceding Light II, Texas courts consistently struck a balance between the legitimate rights of employers to protect …

Kelo V. City Of New London, Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District V. United States, And Washoe County V. United States: A Fifth Amendment Takings Primer., Christopher L. Harris, Daniel J. Lowenberg

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment is a remedy available to citizens for the government's undue interference with private property rights. It operates similarly to an affirmative defense as it entitles citizens to “just compensation” when the government “takes” private property for “public use.” The Takings Clause thus embodies the idea that society values the protection of private property. The Supreme Court of the United States stated the purpose of the Takings Clause is “to bar Government from forcing citizens from bearing public burdens which, in all fairness, should be borne by the public as a whole.” Kelo v. …

Utter Excitement About Nothing: Why Domestic Violence Evidence-Based Prosecution Will Survive Crawford V. Washington., Donna D. Bloom

St. Mary's Law Journal

In response to domestic violence involving victims who do not wish to cooperate in the prosecution of their abuser, prosecutors endeavor to frame cases around other evidence establishing a defendant’s guilt regardless of the victim’s testimony. Domestic violence cases set for trial are being thrown out of Texas courts because of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that reasserts a defendant’s right to confront his accuser in court. Prosecutors believe that strong legal arguments exist to continue successfully prosecuting abusers without the cooperation of the victim at trial. This is through the continued admission of certain hearsay statements, despite Crawford …

Unlicensed To Drill: Proposed Renovations To The Texas Residential Construction Commission Act., Justin M. Jackson

St. Mary's Law Journal

Construction is the largest industry in the United States, and some regard the industry as the engine of the nation’s economy. Only the unavailability of unskilled labor can slow the growth of the construction industry in Texas. As such, Texas has welcomed the construction boom and has enacted statutes to accommodate further industry growth. Texas’ first legislative response came in the form of the Residential Construction Liability Act (RCLA). The RCLA alleviated liability for builders incurred under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). In 2003, the Texas Legislature continued to legislate in favor of builders by passing the Texas Residential …

Even Judges Don't Know Everything: A Call For A Presumption Of Admissibility For Expert Witness Testimony In Lawyer Disciplinary Proceedings The Fourth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Timothy P. Chinaris

St. Mary's Law Journal

Today's practice environment is full of potential ethical pitfalls for even the most conscientious lawyer. The consequences of being found guilty of misconduct can include suspension or disbarment from practicing as a lawyer. Added to these concerns is the fact that the judge or hearing panel before whom the case is tried may not be intimately familiar with the particular ethics rules or how they are interpreted in different areas of practice. In order to mount an effective defense against the disciplinary charges, an accused lawyer may want to introduce expert testimony on his or her behalf. Unfortunately for the …

Unresolved Problems In Texas Legal Malpractice Law The Fourth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Stephen E. Mcconnico, Jennifer Knauth, Robyn Bigelow

St. Mary's Law Journal

Legal malpractice jurisprudence is a dynamic and evolving area of Texas law. In its evolution, many issues have arisen regarding potential areas for attorney liability and discipline. The Texas Supreme Court opinion in Alexander v. Turtur & Associates, Inc. discusses the “suit within the suit” requirement for causation in litigation malpractice cases. The case also raised an important question—whether and in what circumstances causation should be treated as a question of law for the trial judge in the malpractice case, rather than as a question of fact for the jury. The Alexander opinion suggests that both the jury submission issues …

Electronic Discovery: Not Your Father's Discovery., Howard L. Speight, Lisa C. Kelly

St. Mary's Law Journal

This Article examines recent developments in several areas of electronic discovery. It discusses spoliation, cost shifting, form of production, and recent developments in the case law. Additionally, this Article discusses the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and local rules, as well as recommendations of the American Bar Association (ABA) regarding electronic discovery. In Zubulake v. UBS Warburg LLC, I-VI, Judge Scheindlin of the Southern District of New York, set out her vision for the management of electronic discovery. It is a sobering vision, with clarified responsibilities for counsel. Increasing the role of …

Reeves V. Sanderson Plumbing Products: The Emperor Has No Clothes - Pretext Plus Is Alive And Kicking., Matthew R. Scott, Russell D. Chapman

St. Mary's Law Journal

Before the Supreme Court’s decision in Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Products, Inc., the Fifth Circuit’s en banc decision in Rhodes v. Guiberson Oil Tools established the proper standard of causation in employment discrimination cases. The plaintiff must prove his or her protected trait was the “determinative reason” for the challenged employment action. Following Reeves, which appeared to overrule Rhodes and the doctrine of pretext plus, the Fifth Circuit struggled with the causation question. Despite the apparent confusion, the Fifth Circuit has largely reaffirmed not only its commitment to the Rhodes pretext-plus analysis, but also the determinative-reason standard for pretext cases. …

The Environmental Responsibility Of The Regionalizing Electric Utility Industry, Joel B. Eisen

Law Faculty Publications

In this Article, I will address environmental issues in the context of our rapidly evolving understanding of "restructuring." The market for electricity is fast becoming a series of regional marketplaces for wholesale transactions, operating on bid-based systems that move power at the lowest cost. There are plenty of states where power is still delivered as it has been for decades: by "bundled" service provided by vertically integrated utilities. However, the trend is toward regionalization, where independent entities control the transmission grid and play a major role in determining how power is delivered. These market participants, confusingly, have been known by …