Black v. Metso Paper Usa, Inc.

240 F.R.D. 155, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53853, 2006 WL 3956466
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedAugust 3, 2006
DocketCivil Action No. 3:05-CV-1951
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 240 F.R.D. 155 (Black v. Metso Paper Usa, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Black v. Metso Paper Usa, Inc., 240 F.R.D. 155, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53853, 2006 WL 3956466 (M.D. Pa. 2006).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

CAPUTO, District Judge.

Presently before the Court are Defendant Metso Paper USA, Inc.’s Motion to Partially Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) (Doc. 11); Defendant Pexco’s Motion to Partially Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) (Doc. 40); and Motion of Defendants Sandvik, Inc., Pennsylvania Extruded Tube Company and Sandvik Extruded Tube, Inc. to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint (Doc. 41). For the reasons set forth below, the Court will grant each motion in part and deny it in part. Defendant removed this action from the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1441. The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d).

BACKGROUND

According to the facts as alleged in Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint, this case involves a proposed class action for medical monitoring, environmental testing, environmental cleanup and monitoring, diminution in property value, and economic damages brought on behalf of individuals who reside and/or own property in the vicinity of Defendants’ industrial plants located in the Ivy Industrial Park in South Abington Township, Pennsylvania. (Doc. 9, H1.)

Plaintiffs James Jerome Black and Mary Alice Black, husband and wife, jointly owned and lived in a home located less than a mile from Defendants’ industrial plants. (Doc. 9, 113.) Defendants Metso Paper USA, Inc. (“Metso”), Sandvik, Inc., and Pennsylvania Extruded Tube Company (“PEXCO”) are business entities located at Ivy Industrial Park. (Doc. 9, 1IH4-6). PEXCO is a joint venture formed as a partnership between SMI Extruded Tube, Inc. (“SEXTI”) and Sandvik Extruded Tube, Inc. (Doc. 9, H 6.)

TCE is a commonly used industrial solvent. (Doc. 9,1120.) It dissolves moderately in water, but can remain in ground water indefinitely. Id. Drinking large amounts of TCE may cause nausea, liver damage, unconsciousness, impaired heart function, or death. Id. Drinking small amounts of TCE for long periods may cause liver and kidney damage, impaired immune system function and impaired fetal development in pregnant women. Id.

PCE is also a commonly used industrial solvent. (Doe. 9, 1122.) Unsafe concentrations of PCE, particularly in closed, poorly ventilated areas, can cause dizziness, headache, sleeplessness, confusion, nausea, difficulty in speaking and walking, unconsciousness and death. Id.

Plaintiffs received notification that their residential well tested positive for the presence of TCE and PCE. (Doc. 9, II24.) The TCE level was 10.9 ppb, and the PCE level was also 10.9 ppb. Id. In drinking water, any TCE or PCE level above 5 ppb is considered unhealthy. Id. Before they received notification that their well was contaminated, Plaintiffs ingested water from their well. (Doc. 9,1125.)

Plaintiff James Black commenced this action by filing a Complaint against Defendant Metso in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. Thereafter, Metso removed this action on September 27, 2005. (Doc. 1.) On November 2, 2005, Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint naming Mrs. Black’s as an additional plaintiff, and adding Sandvik, Inc. and PEXCO as defendants. (Doc. 9.)

The Amended Complaint seeks recovery under the common law of negligence (Count I) and the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (“HSCA”), 35 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 6020.101, et seq. (Count II). (Doc. 9.) Under their negligence claim, Plaintiffs seek establishment of a medical monitoring fund, environmental testing, cleanup and monitoring, recovery for [158]*158diminution in property value, and recovery of expenses associated with obtaining healthy water. (Doc. 9, HH 42 — 51.) Under their HSCA claim, Plaintiffs seek recovery of response costs. (Doc. 9, f 58.) Plaintiffs identify response costs as the costs of: (a) reasonable and necessary testing of the sites within the plume of potential contamination; (b) the reasonable and necessary costs of remediation and cleaning of the site; (c) relocation costs; (d) diminution of property value; (e) costs associated with obtaining healthy water; and (f) costs of medical monitoring for those persons exposed to TCE and PCE. Id. Lastly, Plaintiffs claim a right to punitive damages. (Doc. 9, H 59.)

On November 18, 2005, Defendant Metso filed a Motion to Partially Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint. (Doc. 11.) On March 6, 2006, Defendant SEXTI filed a Motion to Partially Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint. (Doe. 40.) Then, on March 7, 2006, Defendants Sandvik, Inc., PEXCO and Sandvik Extruded Tube, Inc. filed a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint. (Doc. 41.) These motions are fully briefed and ripe for disposition.

LEGAL STANDARD

Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides for the dismissal of a complaint, in whole or in part, for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Dismissal is appropriate only if, accepting all factual allegations in the complaint as true and “drawing all reasonable inferences in the plaintiffs favor, no relief could be granted under any set of facts consistent with the allegations in the complaint.” Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, Inc. v. Mirage Resorts Inc., 140 F.3d 478, 483 (3d Cir.1998).

In deciding a motion to dismiss, the Court should consider the allegations in the complaint, exhibits attached to the complaint and matters of public record. See Pension Benefit Guar. Corp. v. White Consol. Indus., Inc., 998 F.2d 1192, 1196 (3d Cir.1993). The Court may also consider “undisputedly authentic” documents where the plaintiffs claims are based on the documents and the defendant has attached a copy of the document to the motion to dismiss. Id. The Court need not assume that the plaintiff can prove facts that were not alleged in the complaint, see City of Pittsburgh v. West Penn Power Co., 147 F.3d 256, 263 (3d Cir. 1998), nor credit a complaint’s “bald assertions” or “legal conclusions.” Morse v. Lower Merion Sch. Dist, 132 F.3d 902, 906 (3d Cir.1997).

When considering a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court’s role is limited to determining whether the plaintiff is entitled to offer evidence in support of the claims. See Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236, 94 S.Ct. 1683, 40 L.Ed.2d 90 (1974). The Court does not consider whether the plaintiff will ultimately prevail. See id.

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240 F.R.D. 155, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53853, 2006 WL 3956466, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/black-v-metso-paper-usa-inc-pamd-2006.