Source: http://www.wileyrein.com, September 18, 2013 The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, applying New Jersey law, has held that a policy provision requiring written consent of the insurer in order for claims expenses incurred by the policyholder to be reimbursed is unambiguous. Paulus Sokolowski & Sartor, LLC v. Cont’l Cas. Co., […]

Source: http://www.lexology.com, September 4, 2013 By: Stanley A. Martin, Duane Morris LLP The contractor’s excavator digging the foundation for a new building undermines the abutting building, which collapses, and a worker is injured. In the subsequent lawsuits, one by the abutter and one by the injured worker, the project owner tenders the defense to its […]

Source: The Times-Tribune (Scranton, PA), September 13, 2013 Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com A federal judge on Thursday granted preliminary approval to a $7.5 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit filed against natural gas producer Chesapeake Appalachia by several thousand Pennsylvania leaseholders. U.S. District Judge Malachy Mannion said he reviewed the terms of the proposed settlement and […]

Source: Dow Jones News Service, September 13, 2013 Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com (FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 9/14/13) RIO DE JANEIRO — U.S. energy firm Chevron Corp. on Friday agreed to pay about $42 million to settle lawsuits related to an offshore oil spill in late 2011, much less than the $20 billion in damages that […]

Source: http://energyindepth.org, September 16, 2013 By: Steve Everley For years, critics of hydraulic fracturing have alleged that “methane leaks” from development are not only astronomically high, but also make natural gas from shale a climate “disaster” and “gang-plank.” But a new, highly anticipated report from the University of Texas and the Environmental Defense Fund might […]

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 12, 2013 Posted on: http://fpn.advisen.com<\span> Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s decision to prosecute a major Marcellus Shale natural-gas driller for a 2010 wastewater spill has sent shock waves through the industry. But environmentalists Wednesday hailed the prosecution of the Exxon Mobil Corp. subsidiary as a departure from the soft treatment […]

Source: http://www.lexology.com, September 5, 2013 By: Scott J. Bent, Baker & Hostetler LLP Oil and gas drillers in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale formation may soon find themselves subject to more stringent environmental protection standards under regulations proposed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“the Department”). The Department announced on August 27, 2013 that the proposed […]

Source: Houston Chronicle, September 10, 2013 Posted on: http://fpn.advisen.com Tons of toxic gases spewed from a tower at BP’s Texas City refinery for more than 40 days in 2010 without warning to the public. This week four of more than 48,000 residents who sued BP claiming health damage from the release will be the first […]

Source: The Economist, September 7, 2013 Posted on: http://fpn.advisen.com How much should upwind states care if their filth blows next door? “ON SOME days even if we shut down the entire state, we would be in violation of some health standards because of pollution coming over from other states.” Thus the late Senator Frank Lautenberg […]

Source: http://www.4-traders.com, September 10, 2013 XL Group’s North America Environmental business unveiled a series of pollution insurance policy enhancements to help municipalities address their specific environmental risk management needs and protect their budgets from unexpected clean up and other expenses. “Communities provide their residents with a variety of services that can pose a pollution threat,” […]

Source: http://www.baltimorebrew.com, September 9, 2013 By: Mark Reutter City Council slated to give final approval tonight of the contentious $107 million financing package for Harbor Point. On the eve of tonight’s expected approval of a $107 million financing package for Harbor Point by the City Council, a group of Fells Point residents is seeking answers […]

Source: Business Monitor International, September 6, 2013 Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com News: US-based supermarket chain Safeway is to pay US$600,000 and has agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from refrigeration equipment at its 659 US stores, reports USA Today. The company’s fine and agreed action make up the terms of a settlement it reached with the […]