Opinion · Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Transtech Industries, Inc. v. A & Z Septic Clean
5 F.3d 51
- Type
- Opinion
- Court
- Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
- Date
- 1993-09-17
- Topic
- general
How later courts describe this case
- "We have followed the Supreme Court's admonition and `have consistently construed the Cohen exception narrowly rather than expansively.'" (citations omitted)
Citator
UpLaw has not yet analyzed Transtech Industries, Inc. v. A & Z Septic Clean. The absence of a flag is not a finding that it is good law.
- Authority status
- pending
- Cited by
- 9 opinions
TRANSTECH INDUSTRIES, INC. v. A Z SEPTIC CLEAN,5 F.3d 51(3rd Cir. 1993)
TRANSTECH INDUSTRIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; KIN-BUC, INC., A NEW
JERSEY CORPORATION; AND FILCREST REALTY, INC., A NEW JERSEY CORPORATION v. A
Z SEPTIC CLEAN; AAA TANK; A ALFANTE; ABM DISPOSAL SERVICE; AM
ENVIRONMENTAL; A.E. STANLEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY; ABSOLUTE FIRE PROTECTION,
INC.; ACCURATE FORMING; ACTIVE OIL SERVICE; ADCHEM CORP.; ADRON, INC.; AERO
NUTRONICS FORD; AETNA CHEMICAL CORPORATION; AIR PRODUCTS CHEMICALS, INC.;
AKZO CHEMICALS, INC.; ALCAN ALUMINUM CORPORATION; ALCOLAC INC.; ALL COUNTY
SEPTIC; ALL COUNTY SERVICE CORP.; ALLIED-SIGNAL INC.; ALPHA METALS, INC.;
AMER. BOOK STRATFORD; AMERADA HESS CORP.; AMERICAN CYANAMID CO.; AMERICAN
PRODUCTS CO., INC.; AMERICAN STANDARD INC.; AMERICAN TRAILER; ANCHOR MOTOR
FREIGHT; ANDY FIORE SONS; ARCO PETROLEUM PRODUCTS; ASARCO, INC.; ASHLAND
OIL INC.; ASSOCIATED MARBLE CO.; ASTRO PAK CORPORATION; AT T TECHNOLOGIES,
INC.; ATI, INC.; ATLAS PAINTS; AUTOMATIC CONNECTOR, INC.; AVANTE PRODUCTS
CORP.; AXTON-CROSS CO., INC.; B L INDUSTRIAL SERVICE; BAD PALLET CO.;
BARCLAY CLEANING CO.; BARON BLAKESLEE; BAROUH EATON ALLEN CORP.; BASF CORP.;
BATES MANUF. CO.; BAXTER HEALTHCARE CORP.; BARONNE BARR. DRUM; BEACON FAST
FREIGHT CO., INC.; BECTON, DICKINSON AND CO.; BENDIX CORP.; BENJAMIN MOORE
CO.; BERGEN MACHINE TOOL; BERKELEY CHEM. CO.; BEST DISP. DRUM SERV.;
BEST DISPOSAL; BEST FOODS RESEARCH CNTR.; BFT; BIDDLE SAWYER CORP.; BIG 3
TRUCK PLAZA; BIOCRAFT LAB. INC.; BOC GROUP INC.; BORDEN, INC.; BORG-WARNER
CHEMICALS, INC.; BOROUGH OF WALLINGTON; BOSTITCH INC.; BROOKDALE SHOP-RITE;
BROWN STONE INN; BROWNING-FERRIS IND. OF ELIZ., NJ; C R TRUCKING, CO.; CPS
CHEMICAL CO.; CJR CHEMICAL CO.; CPC INTER'L, INC.; CADBURY CO.; CAN MEG CO.;
CARBOLINE CO.; CARPENTER TECH. CORP.; CECOS INTERN'L, INC.; CENTRAL JERSEY
ASSOC.; CENTRAL JERSEY DISPOSAL; CESCO COMPANY; CHAS. PETZER INC.; CHEM
CLEANING SERV.; CHEM TROL POLLUTION; CHEMICAL CONTROL CO.; CHEMICAL LEAMAN
TANK LINES, INC.; CHEMLINE CORP.; CHEMQUID DISPOSAL INC.; CHESEBROUGH-PONDS;
CHEVRON CHEMICAL CO.; CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.; CIBA-GEIGY CORP.; CITY SERV. OIL
CO.; CLAIROL, INC.; CLARK HAULERS; CLEAN WATER, INC.; CLEVELAND WRECKING;
COASTAL SERVICES, INC.; COASTAL TANK LINES; COCA-COLA FOODS;
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE CO.; COLONY FURNITURE CO.; COLUMBIA CORRUGATED; COLUMBIAN
RIBBON; CON-LUX COATINGS, INC.; CONTINENTAL CAN CO.; INC.; CONTINENTAL CHEM
CO.; CONTINENTAL OIL; COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.; COVINO'S INDUSTRIAL DISP.
SERV., INC.; CRANE CO., INC.; CURTIS NUCLEAR; CURTISS-WRIGHT CORP.; CUSTOM
BUILDERS; CUSTOM
Page 52
DISPOSAL; D C CONTRACTING; DART INDUSTRIES; DARWORTH CO.; DATA GENERAL
CORP.; DELCO REMY; DELEET MERCHANDISING CORP.; DELMARVA IND. CORP.;
DIBELLA SANITATION; DOCK WATCH QUARRY; DONADIA BROTHERS; DONALD HARTMAN;
THE DOW CHEMICAL CO.; DREW CHEM CORP.; DUANE MARINE CORP.; DUBOIS
CHEMICALS, INC.; DURO-TEST CORP.; EJ GAISSER INC.; E.I. DUPONT De NEMOURS
AND CO., INC.; E.R. SQUIBB SONS, INC.; EASTCOAST POLLUTION CONTROL,
INC.; EASTERN IND. CORP.; EASTERN INDUSTRIES; ECOLAB, INC.; EDAL
INDUSTRIES, INC.; EGYPTIAN LACQUER; ELIZABETH DISPOSAL; ELMWOOD TANK
PIPING CORP.; ENVIRONMENTAL RECOVERY; EQUADORIAN LINE, INC.; EXXON CORP.;
FETTE FORD, INC.; FISHER SCIENTIFIC CO.; FLEXTRAP; FLINTKOTE CORP.; FLOCK
INDUSTRIES; FLORENCE IND. RECONTO; FLUID PACKAGING CO., INC.; FMC CORP.;
FORD MOTOR CO.; FRANK FOGLIA JR.; FRANK MUGGID BUILDER; FREEHOLD CARTAGE;
FRISCH CO.; FRITSZCHE D D; FYN PAINT LACQUER; GAESS ENVIRONMENTAL
SER.; GAF CORP.; GALAXY CHEMICAL; GANES CHEMICALS, INC.; GATX TERMINALS
CORP.; GENERAL CABLE CORP.; GENERAL CERAMICS INC.; GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.;
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.; GENERAL SEWER SERVICE; GENERAL WAREHOUSE; GLENWALI;
GM ASSEMBLY DIV.; GOODALL RUBBER CO.; GOODYEAR TIRE RUBBER CO.; GOULD,
INC.; GREYHOUND CORP.; GUARD ALL CHEMICAL CO., INC.; GUARDIAN, INC.;
GULTON INDUSTRIES, INC.; H F CHEMICAL CO.; H S CHEMICAL CO.; HARDMAN
INC.; HATCO CHEMICAL DIVISION; HATFIELD WIRE CABLE; HAVEN CHEM.; HENKEL
INC.; HERCULES, INC.; HEXCEL CORP.; HI-PURE CHEMICALS, INC.; HIGH VOLTAGE
ENGIN. CORP.; HIGHWAY DISPOSAL; HOECHST CELANESE CORP.; HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE
INC.; HOLIDAY INN REST.; HOWARD FUEL CO.; HOWMEDICA; HPH CONSTRUCTION;
HYDROCARBON RESEARCH, INC.; IBM CORP.; ICI AMERICAS INC.; ICI UNITED
STATES; ILFORD PHOTO CORP.; IMPERIAL OIL CO., INC.; IMPORTICO, INC.; IND
SURPLUS CHEMICAL INC.; INDUSTRIAL SILVER CO.; INMONT CHEMICAL; INMONT
CORP.; INSFLEX CO.; INSTEL CORP.; INTER'L FLAVORS AND FRAG., INC.;
INTERDATA CORP.; INTERSTATE CHEM. CO.; IRON OXIDE CORP.; ITT CORP.; J.
BASS CO., INC.; J. FILTRESTO SANIT.; J.M. HUBER CORP.; J.T. BAKER, INC.;
JAMECO CORP.; JAMECO INDUSTRIES; JAMES P. HORAN, INC.; JERSEY SANITATION;
JOHN DUSENBERY CO., INC.; JOHN ERRICO DISPOSAL CO.; JOHN H. COONEY, INC.;
JOHNSON JOHNSON; JOHNSON MATTHEY, INC.; KAY-FRIES, INC.; KERRY TIRE;
KEUFFEL ESSER CO.; KEY OIL CO.; KNOLL FINE CHEMICAL; KOPPERS CO., INC.;
KRAFT CONTAINER; KTK CORP.; L J DRUM CO.; L.E. CARPENTER CO.; LAWRENCE
McFADDEN CO.; LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.; LEHAND SALES; LEHIGHTON ELEC.; INC.;
LEKSI, INC.; LELAND INDUSTRIES; LELAND TUBE CO.; LEVER BROTHERS CO.;
LINCOLN METALS PRODUCTS; LINDEN MOTOR FRGHT. CO., INC.; LIQUID REMOVAL
SER.; LUCAS INDUSTRIES, INC.; LUMAS CO.; M F CHEMICAL CO.; M T
CHEMICALS, INC.; MAAS WALDSTEIN; MACARTHUR PETROLEUM; MADISON TOWNSHIP;
MAKAR TRUCKING INC.; MALLA INC.; MALLINCKRODT CHEM.; MANNON EXCAV.
PAVING CO., INC.; MARBUN DIVISION; MARISOL, INC.; MARPAK ASSOC.; MARVIN
JONAS INC.; MAYCO OIL CHEMICAL; McGILLON EXCAVATING; McKAYS TRUCKING;
THE MEARL CORP.; MERCER RUBBER; MERCK CO., INC.; METRO CONTAINER CO.;
METROL OIL CHEM. CORP.; METROL PETRO CHEM. CO.; MICHAELS INDUSTRIAL
DISPOSAL; MIDDLESEX CONTAINER; MIDLAND PROC., INC.; MIDWEST EMERY;
MILLMASTER; MOBIL OIL CORP.; MONARCH CHEMICAL; MONMOUTH MEDICAL CTR;
MONROE CHEMICAL CORP.; MONSANTO CO.; MONTVAL LABS; MORTON THIOKOL INC.;
MUTPIE TRUCKING; N N TRUCKING; N. AMER. METAL CHEM.; NATIONAL
CONVERTERS; NATIONAL GYPSUM CO.; NATIONAL STARCH CHEM. CORP.; NEPERA,
INC.; NIAGARA SANITATION CO., INC.; NL INDUSTRIES, INC.; NORTON SON,
INC.; NUTEX CORP.; THE NUTRASWEET CO.; OAKITE PRODUCTS, INC.; OCCIDENTAL
CHEMICAL CORP.; THE OKONITE CO.; OLIN CORP.; ORGANON, INC.; THE ORMAND
SHOPS, INC.; ORTHO DIAGNOSTICS; PAMARCO, INC.; PAQUET ONEIDA, INC.; PENN
CENTRAL CORP.; PERK CHEMICAL CO., INC.; PERSONAL PROD. CO.; PFIZER, INC.;
PHARMAC. LABS INC.; PHELPS DODGE CORP.;
Page 53
PHILIP A. HUNT CHEM.; PIONEER ROOFING CO.; PISCATAWAY DISPOSAL; PITNEY
BOWES, INC.; POINT PLEASANT HOSPITAL; POLAROID CORP.; POLYMER MATERIALS,
INC.; POPE CHEMICAL CO.; PORTFOLIO ONE, INC.; PQ CORPORATION; PRINCETON
NURSERIES; PROCEDYNE CORP.; PROCTER GAMBLE MANF. CO.; PUBLIC SERV. ELEC.
GAS CO.; PVO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP.; QUALITY
CONTAINER; R R SANITATION; R.W. EAKEN, INC.; RADIAC RESEARCH CORP.; RAY
GUYS TRAILER; RCA CORP.; REAGENT CHEMICAL RESEARCH; REICHHOLD CHEMICALS,
INC.; REITER DRUM BARREL; REVERE COPPER BRASS, INC.; REYNOLDS METALS
CO.; REHEEM MANUFACTURING CO.; RICHARDS TRUCKING; RIVERVIEW HOSPITAL;
ROLLINS ENV. SERV. (NJ), INC.; RUPACO PAPER CORP.; RUSSELL REID CORP.;
RUSSELL REID CO.; RUSSELL-STANLEY CORP.; RUTGERS-THE STATE UNIVERSITY;
RYCOLINE PRODUCTS, INC.; S W TRUCKING; SAM TRUCKING CO.; SB PENICK
COMPANY; SSS CONSTRUCTION; SAB NIFE, INC.; SAFETY LIGHT CORP.;
SAFETY-KLEEN ENVIROSYSTEMS CO.; SAMSON TANK CLEANING; SANDOZ CHEMICALS
CORP.; SANTY; SCHERING CORP.; SCIENTIFIC CHEM. PROC.; SCOTT PAPER CO.;
SEALAND ENVRNMTL.; SEALED AIR CORP.; SEN-DURE PRODUCTS, INC.; SEQUA CORP.;
SETON HALL UNIVERSITY; SHELL CHEMICAL CO.; SHULTON INC. CONSUMER;
SIEGFRIED CHEMICAL; SIKA CORP.; SINCLAIR VALENTINE; SMITH KLINE BECKMAN
CORP.; SOLVENTS DISTILLERS; SOLVENTS RECOV. SERV. OF NJ, INC.; SOUTHERN
CALIF. CHEM. CO., INC.; SPECTRASERV, INC.; ST. BARNABAS ME. CNTR.; ST. JOE
PAPER CO.; ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CL.; STALEY CHEMICAL CO.; STANDARD TANK
CLEAN; STANDARD TOOL MFG. CO.; STANLEY CHEMICAL CO.; THE STANLEY WORKS;
STARCH CONTAINER CO.; STARLIGHT TRADING; STAUFFER MANAGEMENT CO.; STEPAN
COMPANY; SUN RISE FASHION INC.; SYBRON TRANSITION CORP.; TAPPAN TANKER;
TAU LABORATORIES; TENNECO RESINS, INC.; TEXACO BUTADIENE CO.; TEXACO,
INC.; TEXTRON, INC.; TIME-DC; TIZON CHEMICAL CORP.; TOMS RIVER CHEM.
CORP.; TUCK INDUSTRIES, INC.; U.S. METALS REFINING; UNION CAMP RESEARCH;
UNION CARBIDE CORP.; UNION TEXTILE; UNIROYAL CHEM. CO., INC.; UNISYS
CORP.; UNITED CARTING, UNITED STATES LINES; UNITED STATES METALS REFINING
CO.; UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP.; UNIVERSAL SANIT.; UOP CHEM.; THE UPJOHN
CO.; US SAMICA CORP.; VAMP CHEM; VANGUARD VENTRON CHEMICAL; VILLAGE
CESSPOOL; VINELAND CHEM. CO., INC.; W.W. ANDRESS CO.; WALL TRENDS INC.;
WALTER KIDDE; WALTZ ENTERPRISES; WESTERN UNION; WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC
CORP.; WESTON CHEMICAL; WESTRON CHEMICAL CO.; WHITE CHEMICAL CORP.; WHITE
ROSE TEA; WHITMOYER LABS; WINCHESTER WESTRON; WITCO CHEMICAL CO.;
WOODSTEIN KLURMAN; Z W ENTERPRISES, INC.; JOHN DOE (1-500) STANDARD
SPILL; ALUMINUM BILLETS; MACARTHUR PETROLEUM SOLVENT CO. INC.; CENTRAL
JERSEY CLEANERS; CLEAN SPRAY; JAMES E. McNULTY; LCP CHEMICAL PLASTICS;
LESTER SUMMERS; SAND GRAVEL-STONE CO.; MEADOWS FACILITY POST O; TENNECO
CHEM; WESTERN CHEMICAL CO.; GERMAN SHEPARD; Z W MAZDA; SYBRON CHEMICALS;
UNITED STATES METAL REFINING CO.; GENERAL SEWER SERVICE, MAYCO OIL
CHEMICAL COMPANY; ASTRO PAK; AT T TECHNOLOGIES INC., BY ITS SUCCESSOR
AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, INC.; BIOCRAFT LABORATORIES,
INC.; CHESEBROUGH-POND'S USA CO.; CPC INTERNATIONAL, INC., INCLUDING BEST
FOODS DIVISION AND PENICK CORPORATION SUCCESSOR TO S.B. PENICK COMPANY;
FLUID PACKAGING CO., INC.; FMC CORPORATION; GANES CHEMICALS, INC.; GENERAL
ELECTRIC COMPANY; HEXCEL CORPORATION; HULS AMERICA INC.; IBM CORPORATION;
JOHN H. COONEY, INC.; J.T. BAKER, INC.; LEVER BROTHERS CO.; MARISOL, INC.;
MOBIL OIL CORP.; OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION; PHELPS DODGE
CORPORATION; PROCEDYNE CORPORATION; PROCTER GAMBLE MANUFACTURING
COMPANY; REYNOLDS METALS COMPANY; RUSSELL REID COMPANY; SAFETY-KLEEN
ENVIROSYSTEMS COMPANY; SAFT NIFE, INC. (SUED AS SAB NIFE INC.); SEQUA
CORPORATION (FORMERLY SUN CHEMICAL CORPORATION); SIEGFRIED CHEMICALS;
SMITHKLINE BEECHAM CORPORATION; SPECTRASERV, INC. (FORMERLY MODERN
TRANSPORTATION CO.);
Page 54
STROH BREWERY COMPANY; SYBRON TRANSITION CORP.; SYBRON CHEMICALS, INC.,
INCLUDING AS TRADE NAMES GAMLEN CHEMICAL AND TANATEX; AND WITCO
CORPORATION (COLLECTIVELY "SETTLOR-DEFENDANT APPELLANTS"), APPELLANTS.
No. 92-5636.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Pursuant To Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) August 20, 1993.
Decided September 17, 1993.
Henry B. Fitzpatrick, Stephen P. Chawaga, Fitzpatrick Tanker, Philadelphia, PA, for Astro Pak, appellant.
Joseph J. Strelkoff, Basking Ridge, NJ, for AT T Technologies, Inc. by its successor American Tel. and Tel. Co., Inc., appellant.
stephen P. Kramer, Proskauer, Rose, Goetz Mendelsohn, New York City, for Biocraft Laboratories, Inc., appellant.
Daniel M. Steinway, Catherine J. Serafin, Carl A. Salisbury, Anderson, Kill, Olick Oshinsky, Washington, DC, for Chesebrough-Pond's USA Co. and Lever Bros. Co., appellants.
Steven A. Kunzman, Bivona, Cohen, Kunzman, Coley, Yospin, Bernstein DiFrancesco, Warren, NJ, for CPC Intern. Inc., including Best Foods div. and Penick Corp. successor to S.B. Penick Co., appellant.
Steven J. Eisenstein, Lum, Hoens, Conant, Danzis Kleinberg, Roseland, NJ, for Fluid Packaging Co., Inc., appellant.
John F. Stillmun, Philadelphia, PA, for FMC Corp., appellant.
Tod W. Read, Edward A. Kurent, Gilberg Kurent, Washington, DC, for Ganes Chemicals, Inc. and Siegfried Chemical, appellants.
Langley R. Shook, Sidley Austin, Washington, DC, for General Elec. Co., appellant.
David B. Graham, John W. Kampman, Steven L. Leifer, Howrey Simon, Washington, DC, for Hexcel Corp., appellant.
George S. Flint, Jackson Nash, New York City, for Huls America, Inc., appellant.Page 55
Ezra D. Rosenberg, Fox, Rothschild, O'Brien Frankel, Lawrenceville, NJ, James K. Guerin, Senior Counsel, IBM Corp., Stamford, CT, for IBM Corp., appellant.
John A. Boyd, Harris, Dickson, Buermann, Camp, Ashenfelter, Slous Boyd, Upper Montclair, NJ, for John H. Cooney, Inc., appellant.
Nan Bernardo, Shanley Fisher, Morristown, NJ, for J.T. Baker, Inc., Marisol, Inc., and Procter Gamble Mfg. Co., appellants.
Thomas Richichi, Beveridge Diamond, P.C., Washington, DC, for Mobil Oil Corp., appellant.
Michael M. Gordon, Cadwalader, Wickersham Taft, New York City, for Occidental Chemical Corp. and Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Co., appellants.
John S. Agar, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher Flom, Washington, DC, for Phelps Dodge Corp., appellant.
James Bickford, Princeton, NJ, for Procedyne Corp., appellant.
Renata M. Manzo, Reynolds Metals Co., Richmond, VA, for Reynolds Metals Co., appellant.
Lila Wynne Williams, Slimm, Dash Goldberg, Westmont, NJ, for Russell Reid Co., appellant.
William F. Paquin, Haronian, Paquin, Bramley Harrington, Inc., Warwick, RI, for Saft Nife, Inc. (sued as SAB Nife, Inc.), appellant.
Richard J. Kagan, Leonard Butler, Parsippany, NJ, for Sequa Corp. (formerly Sun Chemical Corp.), appellant.
Patricia A. Barald, Covington Burling, Washington, DC, for Smithkline Beecham Corp., appellant.
Max Spinrad, Miele, Cooper, Spinrad Kronberg, Millburn, NJ, for Spectraserv, Inc. (formerly Modern Transp. Co.), appellant.
Leonard R. Charla, Diane B. Carley, Butzel Long, Detroit, MI, for Stroh Brewery Co. (successor in interest to Jos. Schlitz Brewery Co.) and/or Stroh Container Co., improperly named as Starch Container, appellant.
Donald K. Joseph, Wolf, Block, Schorr Solis-Cohen, Philadelphia, PA, for Sybron Transition Corp. and Sybron Chemicals, Inc., including as trade names Gamlen Chemical and Tanatex, appellants.
Edmund R. Papazian, Witco Corp., New York City, Samuel D. Bornstein, Paramus, NJ, for Witco Corp., appellant.
Dante J. Romanini, Richard M. Cohen, Kozlov, Seaton, Romanini Brooks, P.C., Cherry Hill, NJ, for Transtech Industries, Inc.; Kin-Buc, Inc.; and Filcrest Realty, Inc., appellees.
Myles E. Flint, Acting Asst. Atty. Gen., Anne S. Almy, Catherine R. McCabe, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Environmental Enforcement Section, Washington, DC, for U.S., amicus-appellee.
Before: SCIRICA, NYGAARD, and WEIS, Circuit Judges.
[1]OPINION OF THE COURT
[3] The owners and operators of the Kin-Buc Landfill in New Jersey brought this suit in 1990 seeking contribution for costs incurred in cleaning up that hazardous waste site. The 445 named defendants are generators, transporters, or haulers of hazardous waste who are alleged to be potentially responsible parties liable to plaintiffs for past expenses incurred at the site, as well as for anticipated future costs.Page 56
[4] Approximately 200 of the defendants ("settlor-defendants") moved for summary judgment asserting that, as a result of a settlement agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency embodied in a 1988 consent decree, they were not liable to plaintiffs. The district court denied the motion concluding that the consent decree covered only costs incurred by the United States and did not purport to absolve the settlor-defendants from liability for contribution to plaintiffs for their separate expenditures.
[5] Under CERCLA, parties who have "resolved [their] liability to the United States . . . in a . . . judicially approved settlement shall not be liable for claims for contribution regarding matters addressed in the settlement."42 U.S.C. § 9613(f)(2). The court concluded, however, that the application of that statutory provision was limited by the terms of the settlement agreement and that "[i]n no way was the government absolving defendants from all liability to any other party for the ongoing problems at the site." The court then denied settlor-defendants' request for certification of a controlling question of law under28 U.S.C. § 1292(b). Approximately 35 of the settlor-defendants have appealed.
[6] Settlor-defendants contend that this Court has jurisdiction under the "collateral order" doctrine articulated inCohen v.Beneficial Indus. Loan Corp.,337 U.S. 541, 545-47, 69 S.Ct. 1221, 1225-26, 93 L.Ed. 1528 (1949). In that case, the Court defined an exception to the final judgment requirement of28 U.S.C. § 1291as a "small class [of decisions] which finally determine claims of right separable from, and collateral to, rights asserted in the action, too important to be denied review and too independent of the cause itself to require that appellate consideration be deferred until the whole case is adjudicated."Id.at 546, 69 S.Ct. at 1225.
[7] InCoopers Lybrand v. Livesay,437 U.S. 463, 98 S.Ct. 2454, 57 L.Ed.2d 351 (1978), the Court listed three criteria that must be present for an interlocutory order to come withinCohen'snarrow exception to the final-judgment rule. The order must (1) conclusively determine the disputed question; (2) resolve an important issue completely separable from the merits of the action; and (3) be effectively unreviewable on appeal from a final judgment.Id.at 468, 98 S.Ct. at 2457.
[8] The Supreme Court has been chary of expanding theCohenexception any further. InLauro Lines s.r.l. v. Chasser,490 U.S. 495, 498, 109 S.Ct. 1976, 1978, 104 L.Ed.2d 548 (1989), the Court found that an interlocutory order denying enforcement of a contractual forum-selection clause did not satisfy the third requirement of the collateral order doctrine. The Court reiterated its "general rule" that an order is "effectively unreviewable" only if it "involves an asserted right the legal and practical value of which would be destroyed if it were not vindicated before trial."Id.at 498-99, 109 S.Ct. at 1978 (internal quotations omitted). That an erroneous ruling may result in additional litigation expense "`is not sufficient to set aside the finality requirement imposed by Congress' [in section 1291]."Id.at 499, 109 S.Ct. at 1978 (quotingRichardson-Merrell Inc. v. Koller,472 U.S. 424, 436, 105 S.Ct. 2757, 2764, 86 L.Ed.2d 340 (1985)).
[9] An immunity to civil suit itself is a right that can be lost if not enforced before trial. Consequently, an order rejecting official immunity is immediately appealable,Mitchell v.Forsyth,472 U.S. 511, 525, 105 S.Ct. 2806, 2815, 86 L.Ed.2d 411 (1985), as is one denying effect to the protection of the "Speech or Debate Clause."Helstoski v. Meanor.442 U.S. 500, 506-08. 99 S.Ct. 2445, 2448-49. 61 L.Ed.2d 30 (1979).See also Abney v.United States,431 U.S. 651, 662, 97 S.Ct. 2034, 2041, 52 L.Ed.2d 651 (1977) (order denying right not to stand trial on double jeopardy grounds is appealable before final judgment).
[10] Although an order denying immunity to suit falls within the narrow confines of the "collateral order" doctrine, that exception may not be allowed to swallow the rule. InVanCauwenberghe v. Biard,486 U.S. 517, 108 S.Ct. 1945, 100 L.Ed.2d 517 (1988), the Court remarked that "in some sense, all litigants who have a meritorious pretrial claim for dismissal can reasonably claim a right notPage 57to stand trial."Id.at 524, 108 S.Ct. at 1950. The Court further reasoned:
"Because of the important interests furthered by the final-judgment rule . . . and the ease with which certain pretrial claims for dismissal may be alleged to entail the right not to stand trial, we should examine the nature of the right asserted with special care to determine whether an essential aspect of the claim is the right to be free of the burdens of a trial."
[11]Id.at 524-25, 108 S.Ct. at 1951.
[12] InVan Cauwenberghe,the Court assumed the validity of defendant's contention that he was immune from service of process, but held, nonetheless, that the district court's denial of his motion to dismiss was not immediately appealable.Id.at 524, 108 S.Ct. at 1950. "Because the right not to be subject to a binding judgment may be effectively vindicated following final judgment, we have held that the denial of a claim of lack of jurisdiction is not an immediately appealable collateral order."Id.at 527, 108 S.Ct. at 1952.
[13] We have followed the Supreme Court's admonition and "have consistently construed theCohenexception narrowly rather than expansively."Lusardi v. Xerox Corp.,747 F.2d 174, 176-77 (3d Cir. 1984);see also Praxis Properties, Inc. v. Colonial Sav.Bank, s.l.a.,947 F.2d 49, 54 (3d Cir. 1991);Demenus v. Tinton35 Inc.,873 F.2d 50, 53 (3d Cir. 1989). We considered the problem inBorden Co. v. Sylk,410 F.2d 843(3d Cir. 1969). observing:
"We have detected what appears to be an irresistible impulse on the part of appellants to invoke the `collateral order' doctrine whenever the question of appealability arises. Were we to accept even a small percentage of these sometime exotic invocations, this court would undoubtedly find itself reviewing more `collateral' than `final' orders."
[14]Id.at 845-46. For a comprehensive review of the collateral order doctrine, see 15A Charles A. Wright et al.,FederalPractice and Procedure§§ 3911 to 3911.5 (1992).
[15] Turning, then, to the issues presented in the case before us, we first consider the factors set out inCoopers Lybrand,437 U.S. at 468, 98 S.Ct. at 2457. We may assume that the district court's order is final because there is no indication that it was tentative or less than the last word on the settlor-defendants' construction of the consent decree. We have substantial doubts. however, that the issues settlor-defendants raised in defense of appellate jurisdiction under the collateral order doctrine are distinct from the underlying merits of the lawsuit. We need not linger long on this point, however, because it is quite clear that the settlor-defendants' contentions can be raised on direct appeal after final judgment. Therefore, the interlocutory order fails to meet all of the requirements needed to fall withinCohen's narrow exception to the final-judgment rule.
[16] Recognizing that deficiency, settlor-defendants assert that the consent decree grants them immunity from suit, relying on a line of cases holding that interlocutory orders denying enforcement of settlement or release agreements are immediately appealable.SeeForbus v. Sears, Roebuck Co.,958 F.2d 1036, 1039-40 (11th Cir. 1992);Grillet v. Sears, Roebuck Co.,927 F.2d 217, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1991);Janneh v. GAF Corp.,887 F.2d 432, 436 (2d Cir. 1989);Towers Hotel Corp. v. Rimmel,871 F.2d 766, 769-70 (8th Cir. 1989);cf. Chaput v. Unisys Corp.,964 F.2d 1299, 1301 (2d Cir. 1992). Those cases are factually distinguishable from the case before us in that they involved disputes over settlement agreements between plaintiffs and defendants. Here, however, the settlement agreement was between settlor-defendants and the EPA — an entity that is not a party to this case. Plaintiffs are not alleged to have reached any agreement with the settlor-defendants on the claim incorporated in the complaint.
[17] More significant, however, is our disagreement with the decisions inForbus, Grillet, JannehandTowers.We believe that they undermine the final-judgment rule and expand the immunity concept beyond that which the Supreme Court has approved. In our view,Desktop Direct, Inc. v. Digital Equip.Corp.,993 F.2d 755(10th Cir. 1993), more closely conforms to the Supreme Court's teaching.Page 58
[18] InMidland Asphalt Corp. v. United States,489 U.S. 794, 109 S.Ct. 1494, 103 L.Ed.2d 879 (1989), the Supreme Court cautioned that one should not "play word games with the concept of a `right not to be tried.'"Id.at 801, 109 S.Ct. at 1499. The Court went on to explain that "[a] right not to be tried in the sense relevant to theCohenexception rests upon an explicit statutory or constitutional guarantee that trial will not occur. . . ."Id.
[19] Cases involving claims of official immunity have listed interests that justify permitting freedom from suit, such as "`the general costs of subjecting officials to the risks of trial — distraction of officials from their governmental duties, inhibition of discretionary action, and deterrence of able people from public service.'"Mitchell,472 U.S. at 526, 105 S.Ct. at 2815 (quotingHarlow v. Fitzgerald,457 U.S. 800, 816, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 2737, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982)). No such public policy considerations are present in the case at hand.
[20] InDesktop Direct,the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit declined to review an order vacating a settlement between plaintiff and defendant. The Court concluded that theCohendoctrine should "not be expanded without compelling justification. A claimed right to avoid litigation based on a private contract to that effect does not meet this standard."Id.at 760. The Court also observed that it did not "see how a private settlement contract is significantly different from the contracted forum selection clause the Supreme Court refused to enforce through interlocutory appeal inLauro Lines."Id.
[21] Settlor-defendants seek some support from CERCLA, but we are not convinced. Indeed, we note that the language of section 9613(f)(2) supplies another basis for our conclusion that settlor-defendants have no immunity from suit. That section provides that parties settling with the United States "shall not be liable for claims for contribution regarding matters addressed in the settlement."42 U.S.C. § 9613(f)(2). We believe it is significant that the statute does not include the word "immunity," but merely refers to a party's "liability."
[22] InBrown v. Grabowski,922 F.2d 1097, 1109 (3d Cir. 1990), we refused to review an interlocutory order rejecting claims of official immunity based on state law. Although state law conferred immunity from liability, we found no authority that granted immunity from suit as well.Id.at 1108.
[23] As the Court pointed out inVan Cauwenberghe,undoubtedly there is value to the litigant "`in triumphing before trial, rather than after it.'" 486 U.S. at 524, 108 S.Ct. at 1950 (quotingUnited States v. MacDonald,435 U.S. 850, 860 n. 7, 98 S.Ct. 1547, 1552 n. 7, 56 L.Ed.2d 18 (1978)). Ordinarily, however, the benefits of the final-judgment rule, including discouragement of piecemeal appeals, efficient utilization of judicial resources, and prevention of delay and ultimate disposition, take precedence.Id.at 521 n. 3. 524-25, 108 S.Ct. at 1949 n. 3, 1950-51.
[24] If settlor-defendants had a right to an appeal, it would be difficult to deny one to other litigants who can assert the benefit of such affirmative and dispositive defenses as claim or issue preclusion, statute of limitations, lack of subject matter jurisdiction, and the like. InPowers v. Southland Corp.,4 F.3d 223, 236-37 (3d Cir. 1993), we held that an order joining a party despite the lapse of the statute of limitations was not appealable as a collateral order. We observed: "While it could be argued that a statute of limitations entails a right not to be sued after the expiration of the limitations period, that contention was rejected by this court in connection with a criminal statute of limitations."Powers,4 F.3d at 232 (citingUnited States v. Levine,658 F.2d 113, 124-29 (3d Cir. 1981)).Levinepresented an even stronger case for construing the lapse of the statute of limitations as an immunity from prosecution and trial, but nevertheless, this Court held that theCohenexception did not apply.Levine,658 F.2d at 129.
[25] We are persuaded that orders denying summary judgments on claims of immunity from trial based on releases or settlements are not appealable asCohencollateral orders. Consequently, we lack jurisdiction and will dismiss this appeal.Page 59
[26] Settlor-defendants have requested us to consider their appeal, in the alternative, as a petition for mandamus. We do so, but deny the petition for failure to assert a cognizable basis for relief.
[27] The appeal will be dismissed without prejudice. The petition for mandamus will be denied.Page 647