United States v. Mottolo

629 F. Supp. 56, 22 ERC 1026, 14 Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20497, 22 ERC (BNA) 1026, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18212
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Hampshire
DecidedMarch 27, 1984
DocketCiv. 83-547-D
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 629 F. Supp. 56 (United States v. Mottolo) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Hampshire primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Mottolo, 629 F. Supp. 56, 22 ERC 1026, 14 Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20497, 22 ERC (BNA) 1026, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18212 (D.N.H. 1984).

Opinion

ORDER

DEVINE, Chief Judge.

The United States of America brings this action under section 107(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a), for reimbursement of costs incurred by the United States in response to the release or threat of release of hazardous substances into the environment from defendant Mottolo’s facility in Raymond, New Hampshire (“Mottolo site”). Jurisdiction is founded upon 28 U.S.C. § 1345.

Sutera Motion to Dismiss

Defendant Carl Sutera moves to dismiss claims brought against him by the United States. Rule 12(b)(6), Fed.R.Civ.P. Sutera and the United States present matters outside the pleadings, and the Court treats the motion as one for summary judgment. Rule 12(b), Fed.R.Civ.P.

In order to succeed in his motion for summary judgment, Sutera must demonstrate that, viewing the record in the light most favorable to the United States, matters presented to the Court reveal that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that Sutera is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Early v. Eastern Transfer, 699 F.2d 552, 554-55 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 824, 104 S.Ct. 93, 78 L.Ed.2d 100 (1983). A dispute of fact is material if it affects the outcome of the litigation, and is genuine if manifested by the substantial evidence going beyond the allegations of the complaint. Pignons S.A. de Mecanique de Precision v. Polaroid Corporation, 657 F.2d 482, 486 (1st Cir.1981). Sutera bears the burden of showing that there is no genuine issue as to all the material facts necessary to entitle him to judgment. Donovan v. Agnew, 712 F.2d 1508, 1509, 1516 (1st Cir.1983). He must *58 affirmatively show there is no genuine issue of fact as to every relevant issue raised by the pleadings. Emery v. Merrimack Valley Wood Products, Inc., 701 F.2d 985, 991 (1st Cir.1983); Mack v. Cape Elizabeth School Board, 553 F.2d 720, 722 (1st Cir.1977).

The Court briefly recounts the parties’ dealings as set forth in the complaint. Plaintiff United States alleges that defendant Richard Mottolo was the owner of the Mottolo site at which Mottolo, d/b/a Service Pumping & Drain Company (“Service”), transported, dumped, and discharged wastes containing hazardous substances. Complaint 114. Defendant Lewis Chemical Corporation (“Lewis”), a Massachusetts corporation, arranged with Motto-lo and/or Service for the disposal of wastes containing hazardous substances owned or possessed by Lewis, which were disposed of at the Mottolo site. ¶ 7. Defendant Carl Sutera is and was at all relevant times the president and principal shareholder of Lewis. ¶ 8. Sutera was and is responsible for the conduct and management of the affairs and activities of Lewis. Id. He controls and controlled the affairs and activities of Lewis, and participated in arranging for the disposal of Lewis’ wastes at the Mottolo site. Id. Lewis and Sutera are persons who by contract, agreement, or otherwise arranged for disposal or treatment, or arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal or treatment, of hazardous substances owned or possessed by such person, by any other party or entity, at the dump site owned or operated by another party or entity and containing such substances. 1128.

Defendant Sutera argues that the complaint does not allege that he individually was a person who by contract, agreement, or otherwise arranged for disposal, treatment, or transportation of hazardous waste, and that he is not a person who owned or possessed hazardous substances within the meaning of section 107(a)(3) of CERCLA. In essence, Sutera argues that he operated as Lewis Chemical Corporation to limit his personal liability, and that the United States now improperly seeks to hold him vicariously responsible for the actions of the corporation.

The United States seeks to hold Sutera liable under the provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)(3), which states:

any person who by contract, agreement or otherwise arranged for disposal or treatment, or arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal or treatment of hazardous substances owned or possessed by such person, by any other party or entity, at any facility owned or operated by another party or entity and containing such hazardous substances ... shall be liable____

“Person” means an individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, consortium, joint venture, commercial entity, United States Government, State, municipality, commission, political subdivision of a State, or any interstate body. 42 U.S.C. § 9601(21).

Sutera argues he is not a “person” who arranged for the transport or disposal of hazardous wastes within the meaning of CERCLA. Sutera maintains that any relevant activities occurred while he acted in his capacity as president and shareholder of Lewis; that he did not engage in relevant activities as an individual; that he did not abuse the privilege of operating in the corporate form; and that he breached no duty and broke no existing law at the time he engaged in any relevant activity.

Second, Sutera argues that he did not “own or possess” hazardous substances and that ownership or possession of hazardous substances is required for liability under CERCLA. Sutera claims that Lewis, or a previous occupant of the Lewis plant, owned or possessed the substances. The United States argues that Sutera “possessed” the substances within the meaning of CERCLA by virtue of his control over them. Furthermore, the United States argues that because Sutera arranged for the disposal of the substances, it is not necessary that he owned or possessed them.

In support of his contentions, Sutera avers that he is now and was in 1977-78 the *59 President, Treasurer, and sole shareholder of Lewis. Sutera Affidavit Tí 1. The number of Lewis employees has fluctuated between 7 and 12 in addition to himself. ¶ 4. In about 1977 Lewis set up operations in a former leather plant and cleaned up bits of leather and latex. ¶¶ 6, 7. In 1977-78 Anthony Benvenuto, office manager for Lewis, first contacted Service to clear a clogged drain at the plant. 118. A representative of Service let Benvenuto know that he could remove rubbish, and after this was brought to Sutera’s attention, Sutera approved paying Service to remove old leather and latex placed by Lewis employees in barrels stored on the plant property. K 9. Sutera, Lewis, or Lewis’s employees did not authorize and are not aware of removal of any toxic materials by Service. mo.

As president of Lewis, although he does not do everything every day, Sutera is responsible for the entire operation. II11. In this capacity Sutera authorized Service to remove barrels of leather and latex from the Lewis plant. Id.

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Bluebook (online)
629 F. Supp. 56, 22 ERC 1026, 14 Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20497, 22 ERC (BNA) 1026, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18212, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-mottolo-nhd-1984.