Paoli R.R. Yard PCB Litigation, In re

• Decision Date: 17 October 1994
• Docket Number: No. 86-07421,No. 86-02669,Nos. 92-1995,No. 86-07416,No. 87-05269,No. 86-05886,No. 86-07417,No. 86-07420,No. 86-07419,No. 86-07561,No. 87-00712,No. 86-05277,No. 86-07422,No. 86-07414,No. 86-07418,No. 86-07415,No. 86-02229,No. 86-02235,No. 87-02874,86-02229,86-02235,86-02669,86-05277,86-05886,86-07414,86-07415,86-07416,86-07417,86-07418,86-07419,86-07420,86-07421,86-07422,86-07561,87-00712,87-02874,87-05269,s. 92-1995
• Citation: 35 F.3d 717
• Parties: , 30 Fed.R.Serv.3d 644, 40 Fed. R. Evid. Serv. 379 In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION. Mabel BROWN, Individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger Corporation ("Amtrak"); and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail") v. UNITED STATES of America; Roy F. Weston, Inc.; and OH Materials Company; and General Electric Company; and the Budd Company; and Westinghouse Electric Corporation; Monsanto Co.; Penn Central Corporation, Mabel Brown, Appellant (D.C.Civ.). In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION. George Albert BURRELL and Priscilla Etheridge Burrell, in their own right, and George Albert Burrell and Priscilla Etheridge Burrell, as parents and natural guardian of Amber Shardai Burrell, a minor, and George Albert Burrell, as parent and natural guardian of Andre Walker, a minor, and Priscilla Etheridge Burrell, as parent and natural guardian of Bobby George Albert Christian Burrell, a minor v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); and National Railroad Passenger Corporation ("Amtrak"); and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail") v. UNITED STATES of America; Monsanto Company; General Electric Company; the Budd Company; Westinghouse Electric Corporation v. PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION, George Burrell, Priscilla Burrell, Amber Burrell and Monica Hilton, Appellants (D.C.Civ.). In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION. Wallace Darryl CUMMINS v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SEPTA"); and National Railroad Passenger Corporation ("Amtrak"); and Consolidated Rail Corporation, ("Conrail") v. UNITED STATES of America; and General Electric Company; The Budd Company; Westinghouse Electric Corporation; Monsanto Company, Wallace D. Cummins, Appellant (D.C.Civ.). In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION. K. Louise JONES, Administratrix of the Estate of Harvey N. Jones, Jr., Deceased and K. Louise Jones as Personal Representative of
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Third Circuit

Page 717

35 F.3d 717

63 USLW 2183, 30 Fed.R.Serv.3d 644,

40 Fed. R. Evid. Serv. 379

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Mabel BROWN, Individually and on behalf of all others

similarly situated v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail") v. UNITED STATES of America; Roy F. Weston, Inc.; and OH

Materials Company; and General Electric Company; and the

Budd Company; and Westinghouse Electric Corporation;

Monsanto Co.; Penn Central Corporation, Mabel Brown,

Appellant (D.C.Civ. No. 86-02229).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

George Albert BURRELL and Priscilla Etheridge Burrell, in

their own right, and George Albert Burrell and Priscilla

Etheridge Burrell, as parents and natural guardian of Amber

Shardai Burrell, a minor, and George Albert Burrell, as parent and natural guardian of Andre Walker, a minor, and Priscilla Etheridge Burrell, as parent and natural guardian of Bobby George Albert Christian Burrell, a minor v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); and National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail") v. UNITED STATES of America; Monsanto Company; General

Electric Company; the Budd Company; Westinghouse

Electric Corporation v. PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION, George Burrell, Priscilla Burrell,

Amber Burrell and Monica Hilton, Appellants

(D.C.Civ. No. 86-02235).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Wallace Darryl CUMMINS

v.

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); and National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); and

Consolidated Rail Corporation,

("Conrail")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; and General Electric Company;

The Budd Company; Westinghouse Electric

Corporation; Monsanto Company, Wallace

D. Cummins, Appellant

(D.C.Civ. No. 86-02669).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

K. Louise JONES, Administratrix of the Estate of Harvey N.

Jones, Jr., Deceased and K. Louise Jones as

Personal Representative of Harvey N.

Jones, Jr., and K. Louise

Jones in her own Right

v.

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); Consolidated

Rail Corporation, ("Conrail")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; City of Philadelphia; Monsanto

Company; General Electric Company; the Budd Company; and

Westinghouse Electric Corporation, K. Louise Jones and

Harvey Jones, Appellants (D.C.Civ. No. 86-05277).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

James LAMENT, individually and on behalf of all others

similarly situated

v.

SEPTA; Amtrak and Conrail;

v.

PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION; United States of America; City

of Philadelphia; Monsanto Co.; General Electric Co.;

Budd Co., and Westinghouse Electric Corporation, James

Lament, Appellant (D.C.Civ. No. 86-05886).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Christopher S. BROWN; Jacqueline M. Brown, h/w

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation; Consolidated Rail

Corporation ("Conrail")

v.

PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION; United States of America; City

of Philadelphia; General Electric Company; The Budd

Company; Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Christopher

Brown and Jacqueline Michelle Brown, Appellants (D.C.Civ.

No. 86-07414).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Cathlene BROWN, Appellant,

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("Conrail")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; City of Philadelphia; General

Electric Company; the Budd Company; Westinghouse

Electric Corporation

v.

PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION (D.C.Civ. No. 86-07415).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Craig A. BROWN and Catherine D. Brown, h/w

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); and

Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; Penn Central Corporation; and

City of Philadelphia; General Electric Co.; the Budd Co.;

and Westinghouse Electric Corp., Craig Brown, Appellant

(D.C.Civ. No. 86-07416).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Margherita BARBETTA, Appellant

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); and

Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; and City of Philadelphia; the

General Electric Company; and the Budd Company;

and Westinghouse Electric Corporation

v.

PENN CENTRAL CORPORATION (D.C.Civ. No. 86-07417).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Mary Retta JOHNSON, Appellant

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); and

Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; and the City of Philadelphia;

and General Electric Company; the Budd Company;

and Westinghouse Electric Corporation;

and Penn Central Corp.

(D.C.Civ. No. 86-07418).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Celeste BROWN, Appellant,

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); and

Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; City of Philadelphia; and

General Electric Company; the Budd Company;

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

(D.C.Civ. No. 86-07419).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Clemmon L. BROWN

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); and

Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; City of Philadelphia; and

General Electric Company; the Budd Company; and

Westinghouse Electric Corporation; and Penn Central

Corporation, Clemmon Brown, Appellant (D.C.Civ. No. 86-07420).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Cloyd H. BROWN

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); and

Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; City of Philadelphia; General

Electric Company; the Budd Company; Westinghouse Electric

Corporation; Penn Central Corporation, Cloyd Brown,

Appellant (D.C.Civ. No. 86-07421).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Curtis BROWN, Appellant,

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); and

Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; City of Philadelphia

v.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; and the Budd Company; and

Westinghouse Electric Company; Penn Central Corp.

(D.C.Civ. No. 86-07422).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

John INGRAM, Sr., and Patricia Ingram, in their own right

and as parents and natural guardians of John

Ingram, Jr.; and April Ingram in her own right

v.

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger Corporation

("Amtrak"); and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail");

and Monsanto Company ("Monsanto"); and General Electric

Company ("GE"); and City of Philadelphia ("Philadelphia")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; the Budd Company; Westinghouse

Electric Corporation; Penn Central Corporation, John

Ingram, Sr. (and as representative of decedent, Patricia

Ingram), John Ingram, Jr., Patricia Ingram and April Ingram

Robinson-Ray, Appellants (D.C.Civ. No. 86-07561).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Mary Alice KNIGHT, Appellant

v.

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger Corporation

("Amtrak"); and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail");

and Monsanto Company ("Monsanto"); and General Electric

Company ("GE"); and City of Philadelphia ("Philadelphia")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; the Budd Company; Westinghouse

Electric Corporation; Penn Central Corporation

(D.C.Civ. No. 87-00712).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

William BUTLER; Theresa Butler; Marvin L. Simpson; Allen

K. Simpson; Karen R. Simpson; Donald E. Simpson;

and Bryan M. Jackson

v.

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); and

Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail")

v.

UNITED STATES of America; City of Philadelphia; Monsanto

Company; General Electric Company; The Budd Company;

Westinghouse Electric Corporation; Penn Central

Corporation, William Butler, Theresa Butler, Bryan Jackson,

Allen Simpson, Donald Simpson, Karen Simpson and Marvin

Simpson, Appellants, (D.C. Civ. No. 87-02874).

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

Matthew CUNNINGHAM; and Bessie Cunningham, Appellants,

v.

MONSANTO COMPANY; and Southeastern Pennsylvania

Transportation Authority ("SEPTA"); and National

Railroad Passenger Corporation

("Amtrak"); and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("Conrail")

v.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; the Budd Company; Westinghouse

Electric Corporation; Penn Central Corporation,

Third-Party Defendants (D.C. Civ. No. 87-05269).

Nos. 92-1995 thru 92-1997, 92-1999 thru 92-2011, 92-2014 and

92-2016.

United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.

Argued Oct. 26, 1993.

Decided Aug. 31, 1994.

As Amended Oct. 17, 1994.

Page 730

Arnold E. Cohen, Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg, Ellers & Weir, Joseph C. Kohn, Myles H. Malman, Martin J. D'Urso (argued), Kohn, Nast & Graf, Philadelphia, PA, for appellants Mabel Brown (1995); George Burrell, Priscilla Burrell, Amber Burrell, and Monica Hilton (1996); Wallace D. Cummins (1997); K. Louise Jones and Estate of Harvey Jones (1999); James Lament (2000); John Ingram, Sr., Patricia Ingram, April Ingram Robinson and John Ingram, Jr. (2010); Mary Knight (2011); William Butler, Theresa Butler, Marvin Simpson, Alan Simpson, Karen Simpson, Donald Simpson...