Freeport-McMoran Resource Partners v. B-B Paint

• Decision Date: 16 July 1999
• Docket Number: No. Civ.A. 96-40451.,Civ.A. 96-40451.
• Citation: Freeport-McMoran Resource Partners v. B-B Paint, 56 F.Supp.2d 823 (E.D. Mich. 1999)
• Parties: FREEPORT-McMORAN RESOURCE PARTNERS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership, through its Agrico Chemical Company, Division, Plaintiff, v. B-B PAINT CORPORATION, Bradford White Corporation, Brunswick Corporation, Burwood, Chemical Recovery Systems, Inc., Chemetron, Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation, Leonard Coraci, Crown Enameling Products, Eagle Ottawa, Fessler Borman, Flint Park & Recreational, William Greenway, Hastings Manufacturing, International Harvester, Keeler Brass Company, Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company, Lear Siegler, Lescoa, Motor Products, Nordco, Prein & Newhof, Rospatch Label, Rowe International, Knoll, Inc., Stow Davis, United Steel, U.S. Chemical Co., Inc., and Upjohn Company, Defendants.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Michigan

56 F.Supp.2d 823

FREEPORT-McMORAN RESOURCE PARTNERS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership, through its Agrico Chemical Company, Division, Plaintiff, v.B-B PAINT CORPORATION, Bradford White Corporation, Brunswick Corporation, Burwood, Chemical Recovery Systems, Inc., Chemetron, Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation, Leonard Coraci, Crown Enameling Products,Eagle Ottawa, Fessler Borman, Flint Park & Recreational, William Greenway, Hastings Manufacturing, International Harvester, Keeler Brass Company, Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company, Lear Siegler, Lescoa, Motor Products, Nordco, Prein & Newhof, Rospatch Label, Rowe International, Knoll, Inc., Stow Davis, United Steel, U.S. Chemical Co., Inc., and Upjohn Company, Defendants.

No. Civ.A. 96-40451.

United States District Court, E.D. Michigan, Southern Division.

July 16, 1999.

COPYRIGHT MATERIAL OMITTED

Patrick G. Seyferth, Feeney, Kellett, Bloomfield Hills, MI, James P. Feeney, Bloomfield Hills, MI, for Freeport-McMoran Resource Partners Limited Partnership, plaintiff.

Frederick L. Schmoll, III, Kevin A. Lavalle, Michael W. Edmunds, Gault, Davison, Flint, MI, for B and B Paint, Barrels, Inc., defendants.

Michael F. Kelly, Mark M. Davis, Varnum, Riddering, Grand Rapids, MI, Philip A. Grashoff, Jr., Varnum, Riddering, Grand Rapids, MI, for Bradford White, Brunswick, Keeler Brass, defendants.

Charles E. Barbieri, Foster, Swift, Lansing, MI, for Burwood, Chemical Recovery, defendants.

Stephen T. Moffett, Moffett & Dillon, Birmingham, MI, Diane T. Gorczyca, Cardelli, Herbert, Royal Oak, MI, Joseph R. Brendel, Thorp, Reed, Pittsburgh, PA, for Chemretron, defendant.

John D. Tully, John V. Byl, Warner, Norcross, Grand Rapids, MI, for Eagle Ottawa, Hasting Manufacturers, defendants.

Susan J. Tarrant, Saginaw, MI, for Fessler Bowman, defendant.

Loyst Fletcher, Jr., Flint, MI, for Flint Park and Recreational, defendant.

Nicholas G. Zotos, Dykema, Gossett, Detroit, MI, Ilyse W. Schuman, Chicago, IL, for International Harvestor, defendant.

Michael F. Kelly, Mark M. Davis, Varnum, Riddering, Grand Rapids, MI, Philip A. Grashoff, Jr., Varnum, Riddering, Grand Rapids, MI, Christopher D. Harrington, Grand Rapids, MI, for Knape and Vogt, Bofors Noble, Inc., defendants.

Richard A. Sundquist, Cross Wrock, Detroit, MI, for Lear Siegler, defendant.

Michael F. Kelly, Mark M. Davis, Varnum, Riddering, Grand Rapids, MI, for Lescoa, Major Oil, Miller Metals, Rospatch Label, defendants.

Barbara E. Buchanan, Thomas P. Wilczak, Pepper, Hamilton, Detroit, MI, for Motor Prod., M.W.A., Nordco, Organic Chemical, defendants.

Drew F. Seaman, Straub, Seaman, St. Joseph, MI, for Prein and Newhof, R.C. Allen, defendants.

R. Howard Grubbs, Womble, Carlyle, Winston-Salem, NC, for Ren Plastics, defendant.

Jon R. Muth, Daniel P. Perk, Miller, Johnson, Grand Rapids, MI, for Rowe International, Royal Casket, Shaw Walker, Upjohn Co., defendants.

Christopher J. Dunsky, Honigman, Miller, Detroit, MI, for Stow Davis, Thrall Oil, defendants.

John G. Gleeson, Strobl & Borda, Bloomfield Hills, MI, Michael V. Sucaet, Vestevich, Mallender, Bloomfield Hills, MI, William P. Greenway, Regulatory Law Services, Washington, MI, for U.S. Chemical, defendant.

Raymond C. Schultz, Kreis, Enderle, Kalamazoo, MI, for United Steel, defendant.

Michael V. Sucaet, Vestevich, Mallender, Bloomfield Hills, MI, for William Greenway, Leonard Coraci, movants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER (1) GRANTING CERTAIN DEFENDANTS' MOTION TO EXCLUDE EXPERT OPINIONS OF EUGENE MEYER, (2) DENYING AS MOOT DEFENDANTPHARMACIA & UPJOHN COMPANY'S MOTION TO DISQUALIFYEUGENE MEYER, PH.D.FROM TESTIFYING AGAINST DEFENDANTPHARMACIA & UPJOHN COMPANY, (3) DENYING IN PART AND GRANTING IN PART PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT, (4) GRANTING CERTAIN DEFENDANTS' CROSS MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, (5) DENYING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT AGAINST DEFENDANTWILLIAM GREENWAY, (6) GRANTING DEFENDANTWILLIAM GREENWAY'S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT, AND (7) GRANTING DEFENDANTB-B PAINT CORPORATION'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

GADOLA, District Judge.

I.INTRODUCTION

The above-entitled case is an action for contribution for environmental clean-up costs brought pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), §§ 101-405, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601-9675andMichigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA), M.C.L. § 324.3101 et seq.

On August 27, 1998, plaintiffFreeport-McMoran Resource Partners Limited Partnership(hereinafter "Freeport") filed a motion for partial summary judgment against 15 defendants.¹These 15 defendants are as follows: (1)B-B Paint Corporation, (2)Bradford White Corporation, (3)Brunswick Corporation, (4)Chemical Recovery Systems Inc., (5)Chemetron Corporation, (6)Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation, (7)Eagle Ottowa Leather Company, (8) International Harvester/Navistar, (9)Keeler Brass Company, (10) Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company, Inc., (11) Knoll, Inc./Shaw Walker, (12) Motor Products-Owosso Corporation, (13) Rowe International, (14) U.S. Chemical Co., Inc., and (15) Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. See Plaintiff's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, p. 2, n. 2.

Discovery, however, was not scheduled to end until December 15, 1998.As a consequence, certain defendants filed a motion on September 8, 1998, seeking to hold plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment in abeyance pending completion of discovery.²In an order issued September 11, 1998, this Court granted certain defendants' motion to holdplaintiff's motion in abeyance and also set a new deadline for close of discovery and for the filing of certain defendants' response to the instant motion.On February 18, 1999, these defendants filed a 104 page brief in opposition to plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment.On March 18, 1999plaintiffs filed their reply to certain defendants' response brief.³

The following 12defendants have responded as a group to plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment.These 12 have also requested that their response be treated as a cross motion for summary judgment.These 12 (hereinafter "certain defendants") are as follows: (1)Bradford White Corporation, (2)Brunswick Corporation, (3)Chemetron Corporation, (4)Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation, (5)Eagle Ottowa Leather Company, (6) International Harvester/Navistar, (7)Keeler Brass Company, (8)Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company, Inc., (9)Knoll, Inc./ Shaw Walker, (10)Motor Products-Owosso Corporation, (11) Pharmacia & Upjohn, and (12) Rowe International.On January 29, 1999, defendant U.S. Chemical joined in certain defendants' response to plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment.

Currently pending before this Court are seven motions.All motions are interrelated and may be divided into two groups.The first group consists of two motions and concerns requests to disallow the expert testimony of Eugene Meyer, to wit: (1) certain defendants' motion to exclude expert opinions of Eugene Meyer, and (2)defendantPharmacia & Upjohn Company's motion to disqualifyEugene Meyer, Ph.D. from testifying against defendantPharmacia & Upjohn Company.

The second group consists of motions by both parties seeking either summary judgment or partial summary judgment, to wit: (3)plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment, (4) certain defendants' cross motion for summary judgment, (5)plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment against defendantWilliam Greenway, (6)defendantWilliam Greenway's motion for partial summary judgment, and (7)defendantB-B Paint Corporation's motion for summary judgment.

Oral argument on these seven motions was heard May 18, 1999.At the hearing, the parties stipulated on the record in open court that the following are the onlyparties still remaining in the instant case:

(1)B-B Paint Corporation

(2)Bradford White Corporation

(3)Brunswick Corporation

(4)Chemical Recovery Systems Inc.

(5)Chemetron Corporation

(6)Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation

(7)Eagle Ottowa Leather Company

(8) International Harvester/Navistar

(9)Keeler Brass Company

(10)Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company, Inc.

(11)Knoll, Inc./Shaw Walker

(12)Motor Products-Owosso Corporation

(13) Rowe International

(14)U.S. Chemical Co., Inc. and

(15)Pharmacia & Upjohn Co.

(16)William Greenway, individually

Since the motions relating to the disqualification of proposed expert Eugene Meyer impact issues addressed in the parties' summary judgment motions, the Court will address the motions relating to expert testimony first, before embarking upon a discussion of the summary judgment motions.

For the reasons stated hereinbelow, the Court will grant certain defendants' motion to exclude expert opinions of Eugene Meyer, deny as moot defendantPharmacia & Upjohn Company's motion to disqualifyEugene Meyer, Ph.D. from testifying against defendantPharmacia & Upjohn Company, deny in part and grant in part plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment, grant certain defendants' cross motion for summary judgment, deny plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment against defendantWilliam Greenway, grant defendantWilliam Greenway's motion for partial summary judgment, and grant defendantB-B Paint Corporation's motion for summary judgment.

II.FACTUAL BACKGROUND GERMANE TO ALL PENDING MOTIONS

A.THE FOREST WASTE SITE

Plaintiff seeks contribution for costs incurred while conducting response actions at a hazardous waste disposal site near Otisville, Michigan.The site, known as the "Forest Waste Site," is located in Forest Township, Genesee County, Michigan and consists of approximately 110 acres of real property.The operating portion of the site is composed of lagoons which receive bulk liquids and a landfill consisting of approximately 11 acres.SeeExh. 1 to Plaintiff's Brief in Support of Motion for...