Paoli R.R. Yard PCB Litigation, In re

• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Third Circuit
• Writing for the Court: Before BECKER, MANSMANN and NYGAARD; BECKER
• Citation: Paoli R.R. Yard PCB Litigation, In re, 916 F.2d 829 (3rd Cir. 1990)
• Decision Date: 23 November 1990
• Docket Number: Nos. 88-1973,s. 88-1973
• Parties: 21 Envtl. L. Rep. 20,184, 31 Fed. R. Evid. Serv. 486 In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION. BROWN, Christopher S. and Brown, Jacqueline Michell, h/w v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Christopher Brown, Appellant. In re PAOLI RAILROAD, YARD PCB LITIGATION. BROWN, Cathlene v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Cathlene Brown, Appellant. In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION. BROWN, Craig A. and Brown, Catherine D. h/w v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Craig Brown, Appellant. In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION. BARBETTA, Margherita v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Margherita Barbetta, Appellant. In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION. JOHNSON, Mary Retta v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Mary Retta Johnson, Appellant. In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION. BROWN, Celeste v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United Stat

Page 829

916 F.2d 829

21 Envtl. L. Rep. 20,184, 31 Fed. R. Evid. Serv. 486

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

BROWN, Christopher S. and Brown, Jacqueline Michell, h/w v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("Conrail") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Christopher Brown, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD, YARD PCB LITIGATION.

BROWN, Cathlene v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Cathlene Brown, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

BROWN, Craig A. and Brown, Catherine D. h/w v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Craig Brown, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

BARBETTA, Margherita v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Margherita Barbetta, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

JOHNSON, Mary Retta v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Mary Retta Johnson, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

BROWN, Celeste v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Celeste Brown, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

BROWN, Clemmon L. v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Clemmon L. Brown, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

BROWN, Cloyd H. v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Cloyd H. Brown, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

BROWN, Curtis v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, United States of America, Curtis Brown, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

REID, William Jr., and Reid, William Jr., Executor of the Estate of Reid, Minni, Deceased v. MONSANTO COMPANY, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation

Authority ("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. UNITED STATES of America, William Reid, Jr., Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

BROWN, Mabel, 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. Wester, Inc., General

Electric Company, the Budd Company and

Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Mabel Brown, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

WILLIAMS, Andre, Sr., Individually and on behalf of all

others similarly situated v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger Corporation

("Amtrak"); Consolidated Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL");

Monsanto Company; General Electric Company; The City of Philadelphia,

Andre Williams, Sr., Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

NARCISE, Helen V., Administratrix of the Estate of Narcise, John G., deceased, Narcise, Helen V. as personal representative of Narcise, John G., Narcise, Helen V. in her own right v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger Corporation

("Amtrak"); Consolidated Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL");

Monsanto Company ("Monsanto"); General Electric Company

("GE"); City of Philadelphia ("Philadelphia") v. UNITED STATES of America, Helen V. Narcise, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

KNIGHT, Mary Alice v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger Corporation

("Amtrak"); Consolidated Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL");

Monsanto Company ("Monsanto"); General Electric Company

("GE"); City of Philadelphia ("Philadelphia") v. UNITED STATES of America, Mary Alice Knight, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

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

as parents and natural guardians of Ingram, John

Jr., and Ingram, April in her own right v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger Corporation

("Amtrak"); Consolidated Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL");

Monsanto Company ("Monsanto"); General Electric Company

("GE"); City of Philadelphia ("Philadelphia") v. UNITED STATES of America, John Ingram, Sr. and Patricia Ingram, Appellants.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

CUNNINGHAM, Matthew and Cunningham, Bessie v. MONSANTO COMPANY and Southeastern Pennsylvania

Transportation Authority ("SEPTA") and National

Railroad Passenger Corporation

("Amtrak") and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL"),

Matthew and Bessie Cunningham, Appellants.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

BURRELL, George Albert and Priscilla Etheridge, in their own

right, and Burrell, George Albert and Burrell, Priscilla

Etheridge, as parents and natural guardian of Burrell, Amber

Shardai, a minor, and Burrell, George Albert, as parent and

natural guardian of Walker, Andrew, a minor, and Burrell,

Priscilla Etheridge, as parent and natural guardian of

Burrell, Bobby George Albert Christian, a minor, v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"), and National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. UNITED STATES of America, George Albert Burrell and Priscilla Etheridge Burrell, Appellants.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

CUMMINS, Wallace Darryl v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); and National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. UNITED STATES of America, Wallace Darryl Cummins, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

JONES, K. Louise, Administratrix of the Estate of Jones,

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

Personal Representative of Jones, Harvey

N. Jr., and Jones, K. Louise

in Her Own Right v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"), National Railroad Passenger Corporation

("Amtrak") and Consolidated Rail

Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. UNITED STATES of America, City of Philadelphia, K. Louise Jones, Appellant.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

STANBACH, Charles W., Executor of the Estate of Stanbach,

Charles, Jr., deceased and Stanbach, Charles W.,

as a personal representative of

Stanbach, Charles W. in his

own right and Stanbach, Susanna v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"), and National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"), and Consolidated

Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL")

and Monsanto Company

("Monsanto") v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Charles and Susanna Stanbach, Appellants.

In re PAOLI RAILROAD YARD PCB LITIGATION.

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

Simpson, Allen K.; Simpson, Karen R.; Simpson, Donald E.; and Jackson, Bryan M. v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

("SEPTA"); National Railroad Passenger

Corporation ("Amtrak"); and Consolidated Rail Corporation ("CONRAIL") v. UNITED STATES of America, City of Philadelphia, William Butler, Theresa Butler, Marvin L. Simpson, Allen K.

Simpson, Karen R. Simpson, Donald E. Simpson and

Bryan M. Jackson, Appellants.

Nos. 88-1973 to 88-1992, 89-1070 to 89-1079 and 89-1097.

United States Court of Appeals Third Circuit.

Argued Sept. 8, 1989.

Decided Sept. 20, 1990.

As Amended Oct. 29, 1990.

As Amended Nov. 23, 1990.

Rehearing and Rehearing In Banc

Denied Nov. 23, 1990.

D. Bruce Hanes, Friedman and Hanes, Philadelphia, Pa., for Christopher Brown, Cathlene Brown, Craig Brown, Margherita Barbetta, Mary Retta Johnson, Celeste Brown, Clemmon L. Brown, Cloyd Brown, Curtis Brown, appellants.

James C. Sargent, Jr., Lamb, Windle & McErlane, P.C., West Chester, Pa., for William Reid, Jr., appellant.

Geoffrey L. Beauchamp, Wisler, Pearlstine, Talone, Craig & Garrity, Norristown, Pa., Kenneth Roos (argued), Joseph Donley, Kittredge, Kaufman & Donley, Philadelphia, Pa., for William Butler, Theresa Butler, Marvin L. Simpson, Allen K. Simpson, Karen R. Simpson, Donald E. Simpson and Bryan M. Jackson, appellants.

Charlotte E. Thomas, Arnold E. Cohen (argued), John H. Spelman, Andrew O. Schiff, Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg, Ellers & Weir, and Harold E. Kohn, Joseph C. Kohn, Kohn, Savett, Klein & Graf, Philadelphia, Pa., for Mabel Brown, Andre Williams, Sr., Helen V. Narcise, Mary Alice Knight, John and Patricia Ingram, Matthew and Bessie Cunningham, George Albert Burrell, Priscilla Etheridge, Wallace Darryl Cummins, K. Louise Jones, Charles W. Stanbach, appellants.

Michael H. Malin (argued), James D. Shomper, Jeanne Proko-Elkins, White and Williams, Philadelphia, Pa., for Monsanto Co., appell...