Breathe Clean Air Action Team v. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas, Inc. (2005): challenge to air pollution construction permit for expansion of corn products processor in Loudon, Tennessee, resulting in settlement for new air pollution controls on whole plant.
Citizens Against the Pellissippi Parkway Extension v. U.S. Department of Transportation (2002): NEPA challenge to construction of new four-lane highway through rural area of Blount County, Tennessee, resulting in preliminary injunction stopping construction of highway.
Friends of Shelby Farms Park v. U.S. Department of Transportation (2000): NEPA and Transportation Act challenge to construction of six-lane highway through large public park in Memphis; resulted in redesign rerouting most roads around park.
Parker v. Maggoteaux Corp. (1998): Citizen suit under Clean Water Act and RCRA, combined with toxic tort action, against operator of industrial waste landfill that contaminated ground water with lead. Achieved substantial confidential settlement for adjoining owner of Antebellum estate.
Robert Orr/Sysco Food Services Co. v. Laidlaw Environmental Systems (1994): Successful challenge on behalf of food distributor to air pollution operating permit for neighboring hazardous waste treatment facility in Nashville, Tennessee, resulting in order by County Health Board to close the hazardous waste facility.
Residents Against Industrial Landfill Expansion v. Diversified Systems, Inc. (1992): Clean Water Act citizen suit against industrial waste landfill site in McMinn County, Tennessee, that resulted in ruling by federal district court requiring NPDES permits for landfill sediment ponds.
Conatser v. Ashland Chemical, et al. (1989): Products liability suit against manufacturers of solvents on behalf of screen printing plant worker who suffered neurological effects, resulting in substantial confidential settlement.
Champion International Corporation v. EPA (LEAF, NC Clean Water Fund, Intervenors) (1986): Objections by citizens group to inadequate wastewater permit issued by North Carolina to paper mill resulted in U.S. EPA veto of permit and ultimate issuance of stronger permit by EPA. Champion sued EPA to contest permit veto, and LEAF intervened. Federal district court dismissed challenge.
Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation v. Hodel (1984): Citizen suit under Clean Water Act and RCRA to enforce hazardous waste and water pollution control regulations at U.S. Department of Energy nuclear weapons facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Federal district court found that DOE nuclear weapons facilities are not exempt from federal and state environmental regulations. The suit resulted in application of federal and state environmental regulations to all nuclear weapons facilities nationwide.
