Opinions of the United 1994 Decisions States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

10-17-1994

IN RE: Paoli Railroad Yard PCB Litigation Precedential or Non-Precedential:

Docket 92-1995-1997, 92-1999-2010, 92-2014 & 92-2016

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_1994

Recommended Citation "IN RE: Paoli Railroad Yard PCB Litigation" (1994). 1994 Decisions. Paper 158. http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_1994/158

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____________

NO. 92-1995 ____________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

MABEL BROWN, Individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated

v.

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); AND CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; ROY F. WESTON, INC.; and OH MATERIALS COMPANY; and GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; and THE BUDD COMPANY; and WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION; MONSANTO CO.; PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION

Mabel Brown, Appellant

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-02229)

____________

NO. 92-1996 ____________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

GEORGE ALBERT BURRELL and PRISCILLA ETHERIDGE BURRELL, in their own right, and GEORGE ALBERT BURRELL and PRISCILLA ETHERIDGE BURRELL, as parents and natural guardian of AMBER SHARDAI BURRELL, a minor, and GEORGE ALBERT BURRELL, as parent and natural guardian of ANDRE WALKER, a minor, and PRISCILLA ETHERIDGE BURRELL, as parent and natural guardian of BOBBY GEORGE ALBERT CHRISTIAN BURRELL, a minor

v.

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); and NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); and CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; MONSANTO COMPANY; GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; THE BUDD COMPANY; WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION

v.

PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION

George Burrell, Priscilla Burrell, Amber Burrell and Monica Hilton, Appellants

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-02235)

____________

NO. 92-1997 ____________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

WALLACE DARRYL CUMMINS

v.

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); AND NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); AND CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION, ("CONRAIL")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; and GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; THE BUDD COMPANY; WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION; MONSANTO COMPANY

Wallace D. Cummins, Appellant

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-02669)

____________

NO. 92-1999 ____________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

K. LOUISE JONES, ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF HARVEY N. JONES, JR., DECEASED AND K. LOUISE JONES AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF HARVEY N. JONES, JR., AND K. LOUISE JONES IN HER OWN RIGHT

v.

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION, ("CONRAIL")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; MONSANTO COMPANY; GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; THE BUDD COMPANY; AND WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION

K. Louise Jones and Harvey Jones, Appellants

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-05277)

___________

NO. 92-2000 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

JAMES LAMENT, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated

v.

SEPTA; AMTRAK and CONRAIL;

v.

PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; MONSANTO CO.; GENERAL ELECTRIC CO; BUDD CO., AND WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION

James Lament, Appellant

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-05886)

___________

NO. 92-2001 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

CHRISTOPHER S. BROWN; JACQUELINE M. BROWN, h/w

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION; CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL")

v.

PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; THE BUDD COMPANY; WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION

Christopher Brown and Jacqueline Michelle Brown, Appellants

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-07414)

___________

NO. 92-2002 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

CATHLENE BROWN,

Appellant v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; THE BUDD COMPANY; WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION

v.

PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION

(D.C. Civ. No. 92-2002)

___________

NO. 92-2003 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION CRAIG A. BROWN AND CATHERINE D. BROWN h/w

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); and CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION; AND CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.; THE BUDD CO.; AND WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP.

Craig Brown, Appellant

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-07416)

___________

NO. 92-2004 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

MARGHERITA BARBETTA,

Appellant v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); and CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; and CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; AND THE BUDD COMPANY; AND WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION v.

PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-07417)

___________

NO. 92-2005 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

MARY RETTA JOHNSON,

Appellant v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); and CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; AND THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; and GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; THE BUDD COMPANY; and WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION; and PENN CENTRAL CORP.

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-07418)

___________

NO. 92-2006 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

CELESTE BROWN,

Appellant v. MONSANTO COMPANY; SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); and CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; and GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; THE BUDD COMPANY; WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-07419)

___________

NO. 92-2007 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

CLEMMON L. BROWN

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); and CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; AND GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; THE BUDD COMPANY; AND WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION; AND PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION

Clemmon Brown, Appellant

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-07420) ___________

NO. 92-2008 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

CLOYD H. BROWN

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); and CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; THE BUDD COMPANY; WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION

Cloyd Brown, Appellant

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-07421)

___________

NO. 92-2009 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

CURTIS BROWN,

Appellant v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); and CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL")

v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

v.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; and THE BUDD COMPANY; and WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY; PENN CENTRAL CORP.

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-07422)

___________

NO. 92-2010 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

JOHN INGRAM, SR., and PATRICIA INGRAM, in their own right and as parents and natural guardians of JOHN INGRAM, JR.; and APRIL INGRAM in her own right

v.

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); and CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL"); and MONSANTO COMPANY ("MONSANTO"); and GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY ("GE"); and CITY OF PHILADELPHIA ("PHILADELPHIA")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; THE BUDD COMPANY; WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION; PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION

John Ingram, Sr. (and as representative of decedent, Patricia Ingram), John Ingram, Jr., Patricia Ingram and April Ingram Robinson-Ray, Appellants

(D.C. Civ. No. 86-07561)

___________ NO. 92-2011 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

MARY ALICE KNIGHT,

Appellant v.

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); and CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL"); and MONSANTO COMPANY ("MONSANTO"); and GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY ("GE"); and CITY OF PHILADELPHIA ("PHILADELPHIA")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; THE BUDD COMPANY; WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION; PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION

(D.C. Civ. No. 87-00712)

___________

NO. 92-2014 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

WILLIAM BUTLER; THERESA BUTLER; MARVIN L. SIMPSON; ALLEN K. SIMPSON; KAREN R. SIMPSON; DONALD E. SIMPSON; and BRYAN M. JACKSON

v.

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); and CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL")

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; MONSANTO COMPANY; GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; THE BUDD COMPANY; WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION; PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION

William Butler, Theresa Butler, Bryan Jackson, Allen Simpson, Donald Simpson, Karen Simpson and Marvin Simpson, Appellants

(D.C. Civ. No. 87-02874)

___________

NO. 92-2016 ___________

IN RE: PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION

MATTHEW CUNNINGHAM; AND BESSIE CUNNINGHAM,

Appellants v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; and SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); and NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION ("AMTRAK"); and CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION ("CONRAIL") v.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; THE BUDD COMPANY; WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION; PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION,

Third-Party Defendants

_________________________________

On Appeal From the United States District Court For the Eastern District of Pennsylvania _________________________________

Argued: October 26, 1993

Before: BECKER, ROTH, and LEWIS, Circuit Judges.

(Filed ) ARNOLD E. COHEN Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg, Ellers & Weir 1401 Walnut Street, 8th Fl. Philadelphia, PA 19102 and JOSEPH C. KOHN MYLES H. MALMAN MARTIN J. D'URSO (ARGUED) Kohn, Nast & Graf 2400 One Reading Center 1101 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19107

Attorneys for Appellants Mabel Brown (1995); George Burrell, Priscilla Burrell, Amber Burrell, and Monica Hilton (1996); Wallace D. Cummins (1997); K. Louise Jones and Estate of Harvey Jones (1999); James Lament (2000); John Ingram, Sr., Patricia Ingram, April Ingram Robinson and John Ingram, Jr. (2010); Mary Knight (2011); William Butler, Theresa Butler, Marvin Simpson, Alan Simpson, Karen Simpson, Donald Simpson and Brian Jackson (2014); Bessie Cunningham and Matthew Cunningham (2016)

D. BRUCE HANES (ARGUED) D. Bruce Hanes and Associates, P.C. 1700 Market Street Suite 3131 Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attorney for Appellants Christopher Brown, Jacqueline M. Brown (2001); Cathlene Brown (2002); Craig Brown (2003); Margherita Barbetta (2004); Mary Retta Johnson (2005); Celeste Brown (2006); Clemmon Brown (2007); Cloyd Brown (2008) and Curtis Brown (2009)

JOHN G. KESTER (ARGUED) JOHN W. VARDAMAN, JR. SARAH H. DUGGIN PHILIP A. SECHLER Williams & Connolly 725 12th Street, NW Washington, DC 20005

HARRY A. SHORT, JR. STEPHEN M. McMANUS Liebert, Short & Hirschland 1901 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attorneys for Appellee General Electric Company

ROGER F. COX JEROME R. RICHTER JOHN J. MONSEES Blank, Rome, Comisky & McCauley 1200 Four Penn Center Plaza Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attorneys for Appellees Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and The Penn Central Corporation

MICHAEL M. MALIN THOMAS M. GOUTMAN KATHY A. O'NEILL ROBERT ROLAND, II White and Williams One Liberty Place 1650 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attorneys for Appellee Monsanto Company

RICHARD A. KRAEMER SUZANNE H. GROSS Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman and Goggin 1845 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 Attorneys for Appellee National Railroad Passenger Corporation

ROBERT A. SUTTON Assistant City Solicitor City of Philadelphia Law Department 1600 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attorney for Appellee The City of Philadelphia

G. DANIEL BRUCH, JR. Schwartz, Campbell & Detweiller 1700 Land Title Building 100 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19110

DAVID C. LANDIN McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe 901 East Cary Street One James Center Richmond, VA 23219

Attorneys for Appellee Westinghouse Electric Corporation

LAURA A. FOGGAN STEPHEN D. GOLDMAN Wiley, Rein & Fielding 1776 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006

Attorneys for Amicus Curiae Appellee American Insurance Association R. THOMAS McLAUGHLIN Kelly, Harrington, McLaughlin & Foster 1700 Atlantic Building 160 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19102

Attorneys for Appellee The Budd Company

________________________________

ORDER AMENDING OPINION ________________________________

The opinion in the above-captioned case filed August

31, 1994, is amended as follows:

1) On page 58, lines 10 and 11, the words

"promulgated under the Rules Enabling Act" are deleted from that

sentence;

2) On page 59, second paragraph, lines 3 and 4, the

phrase "promulgated under the Rules Enabling Act,

," is deleted from that sentence; and

3) On the last line of text on page 144, substitute

the name "Patricia" for "Priscilla".

BY THE COURT,

/s/ Edward R. Becker

Circuit Judge

DATED: October 17, l994