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Navigating the New Reality of Equipment Leasing and CERCLA Liability
The Supreme Court's unanimous recent decision in United States v. Atlantic Research Corporation, 127 S.Ct. 2331, 551 U.S. ____ (2007), No. 06-562 (June 11, 2007) potentially affects every commercial real estate transaction in the United States, including those involving fixtures and leased equipment. This decision does so because the Court confirmed that a private party cleaning up contaminated land has an effective judicial remedy under federal law. Because of the breadth of the law under which it was decided ' the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ('CERCLA') or Superfund, 42 U.S.C. '9601, et seq. ' this decision affects not only owners and occupiers of land, but also the owners and users of leased equipment ' fixtures ' located on such land.
This month, we explain the Atlantic Research decision and some of the basic steps a party to a commercial real estate transaction should take to help protect itself from unexpected CERCLA claims resulting from this decision. In next month's issue, we will explain detailed steps tailored to help those in the equipment leasing field protect against such claims, which are now a larger risk for those leasing fixtures.
Overview
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Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York
In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?