Jeffrey Carlin

• Represented a former pesticide manufacturer in the investigation and remediation of a closed hazardous waste landfill in West Covina, CA, and the pursuit of contribution from thousands of potentially responsible parties.
• Defended an agrochemical company in a series of public nuisance and product liability suits by municipalities and government entities throughout the West Coast alleging PCB contamination in various waterbodies. Member of the team that obtained summary judgment disposing of plaintiff the City of San Diego’s case in the first of these suits to be adjudicated by a trial court.
• Represented a former pesticide manufacturer in the clean-up of a Superfund site in Los Angeles and related CERCLA cost-recovery litigation.
• Represented a leading seawater desalination developer to obtain multiple agency approvals for a 50-million gallon per day desalination facility in Carlsbad, CA, and defended approvals in multiple state court lawsuits. Argued and briefed an appeal defending the final approval by the regional water board. Surfrider Foundation v. Cal. Regional Water Quality Control Bd., 211 Cal. App. 4th 557.
• Represented a shipbuilder in administrative proceedings regarding the remediation of contaminated sediment in the San Diego Bay and in related cost-recovery and contribution litigation, obtaining a favorable settlement for the client.
• Defended a series of highly publicized CEQA lawsuits in which the opponent sought to prohibit the annual Independence Day fireworks display in La Jolla, CA. The litigation was settled after opponent’s efforts to enjoin the fireworks show were unsuccessful.
• Represented a commercial real estate company in the defense of land use approvals for a major expansion of a regional shopping center in La Jolla, CA. CREED v. City of San Diego, 184 Cal. App. 4th 1032.
• Defended an aerospace company in federal RCRA and CERCLA cost recovery actions involving TCE and perchlorate contamination in the Rialto-Colton Groundwater Basin.
• Represented the petitioners against the Los Angeles Unified School District over demolition of the Ambassador Hotel. The case resulted in a settlement after the school district was enjoined from demolishing the hotel.

Jeff Carlin focuses his practice on complex litigation involving the environment and land use entitlements, as well as environmental permitting and compliance matters. Jeff advises clients and litigates cases implicating various state and federal environmental laws such as CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, state water quality laws, planning and zoning laws, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Jeff represents clients in site clean-ups at federal and state Superfund sites involving a range of facilities including mixed-use landfills, manufacturing plants, and other industrial operations. Additionally, he has significant experience litigating CERCLA cost-recovery and contribution actions. Jeff also counsels clients to ensure that documents prepared in compliance with CEQA and other environmental statutes can be defended in subsequent litigation.

Jeff frequently defends project approvals in trial and appellate courts, and represents petitioners challenging administrative decisions. His environmental litigation experience includes defending public nuisance and product liability cases involving environmental contamination claims made against product manufacturers.

Jeff received his J.D. from the University of Southern California, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and the Southern California Law Review.

Bar Admissions

• California

Education

• University of Southern California (J.D., 2003)
• University of Southern California (B.A., 2000)