Property Rights vs. Polluters: Understanding Trespass and Nuisance Claims Property ownership confers the right to enjoy and protect one’s land. But what happens when a neighbor—or an industrial facility down the road—invades that right by damaging your property? In Washington, the doctrines of trespass and nuisance remain powerful legal tools for landowners facing contamination or […]
After the Funding Ends: Legal Remedies for Contaminated Landowners Near Superfund Sites When news circulates regarding a Superfund cleanup project winding up or winding down, many residents and property owners sigh of relief. Finally—there’s money and purpose to remediate the mess! The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and its Washington State […]
When people hear the word “petrochemicals,” they often think of plastics, gasoline, or fertilizers. What’s less visible is the toll petrochemical operations can take on land, water, and communities in Washington. Refineries, shipping hubs, and chemical storage facilities may release toxic byproducts into the environment, leaving nearby property owners to deal with the aftermath: contaminated […]
Real estate transactions are some of the largest financial decisions a family will ever make. In Washington, buyers and sellers alike face a spectrum of challenges in urban and suburban settings: contaminated soil from decades-old sources. Industrial history, agricultural chemicals, and even residential practices can leave behind pollution that quietly—until suddenly—reduce a property’s market value. […]
