Meaghan G. Boyd

• Defended a textile manufacturer in more than 100 toxic tort suits and a related Clean Water Act citizen suit arising out of a fish kill and the company’s ongoing wastewater discharge. The chemicals of concern include ammonia and formaldehyde.
• Represented the world’s largest vehicle remarketing company in nuisance and trespass claims against a neighboring property owner.
• Defended petroleum storage companies against personal injury and property damage claims asserted by a child who contracted leukemia allegedly from his exposure to benzene and other chemicals in drinking water, which the plaintiff claims originated at the petroleum storage facility.
• Defending multiple clients in cost recovery and contribution litigation at a CERCLA site involving PCB contamination. Also represented the clients in connection with an EPA UAO action at the same site.
• Defended a Fortune 500 company in a putative class action seeking damages for more than 13,000 claimants from alleged releases of lead and other pollutants from former foundry operations in Anniston, AL. The litigation was resolved by a classwide settlement for less than pretrial defense costs.
• Obtained a summary judgment on Atlantic Research grounds in a CERCLA cost recovery suit involving past and future cleanup costs exceeding $300 million.
• Represented a national building products company in mass tort litigation involving 19 lawsuits and more than 1,300 plaintiffs alleging personal injuries caused by air and surface water emissions from former wood treatment operations. The chemicals of concern included dioxin, arsenic, creosote, and chromium, which allegedly resulted in cancers, birth defects, and other diseases. All claims were settled in a two-day mediation following close of fact discovery in the first four lawsuits.
• Represented a construction company in litigation over a county’s denial of an essential permit for a large expansion of an existing granite quarry and obtained a full and favorable resolution of the matter allowing the client to proceed with the quarry expansion.

Environmental Compliance and Enforcement

• Represented an international transportation and logistics company in negotiations and resolution of statewide violations of California’s hazardous and medical waste regulations.
• Represented an international transportation and logistics company in negotiations and resolution of EPA’s allegations that company violated federal hazardous waste regulations at its facilities in all 50 states.
• Advising manufacturers and importers on compliance with PFAS reporting requirements under TSCA Section 8(a)(7).
• Advising an international transportation and logistics company on environmental matters arising throughout the country, including compliance and enforcement matters in more than 30 states to date.
• Represented a pipeline company in compliance and enforcement negotiations with state environmental regulators.
• Counseled scrap metal recycling companies facing enforcement actions for alleged violations of California’s hazardous waste laws and regulations.
• Advised glass recyclers and processors for issues related to the recycling of CRTs and CRT glass under California law.
• Represented the world’s second-largest glass manufacturing company in an enforcement action by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) concerning alleged hazardous waste violations under California law.
• Counsel to a former fabric and fiber manufacturing company in the remediation of a landfill pursuant to Georgia’s Hazardous Sites Response Act.
• Represented a leading producer of residential, industrial, commercial, and utility wire and cable in the mediation of an environmental remediation contract dispute.

Hazardous Materials Transportation

• Representing a small package delivery company in an FAA administrative enforcement action in which the FAA alleges the client should have reported certain packages to the agency.
• Advising several clients on the applicability and scope of the USDOT’s and FAA’s Hazardous Materials Regulations, including package marking, labeling and packaging requirements, employee training, and incident notification. Experience also includes counsel and advice regarding international standards and norms, including ICAO, IATA, IMDG, and various foreign requirements for transporting hazardous materials.
• Counseled a client through an FAA Notice of Violation (NOV) that the company received after a package that had been shipped from its facility was found leaking at an air freight facility. The FAA agreed to drop the NOV altogether following meetings with civil investigators and legal staff that showed that the client had no involvement or awareness of the unauthorized shipment.
• Assisted a client in negotiations with the FAA related to a package containing hazardous materials that was accepted for transportation at a retail store location and was found damaged and leaking at an air freight facility. Negotiated the proposed penalty down by approximately 40 percent. Also assisted the client with revisions to its in-store package acceptance guidelines.
• Advised a client on potential liability for packages that did not comply with hazardous materials regulations, including packaging and marking requirements. Analysis included review of past penalty and enforcement cases involving similar allegations to advise the client of potential risk.