Explore 30 court opinions on Environmental Law. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
30 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of EPA SIP Challenge Over Lack of Standing
G.B. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency, decided by Ninth Circuit on April 9, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a la...
Court Affirms TCEQ Permit Approval Despite Environmental Justice Concerns
Phillip David Haskett v. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 31, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Phillip David Haskett, chal...
Defendant's Environmental Violations Deemed Public Nuisance
State ex rel. Yost v. Costine, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 31, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's decision, finding that the ...
Eighth Circuit Affirms FERC Preliminary Permit for Hydroelectric Project
Missouri River Energy Services v. FERC, decided by Eighth Circuit on March 30, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed FERC's decision to grant a prelim...
NY Officials Not Legally Compelled to Act on Endangered Species
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) sued former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and other state officials, alleging that their failure to adequately protect endangered and threatened species unde...
Appellate Court Affirms Ruling: Ashland Global Must Indemnify SuperAsh for Environmental Liabilities
This case involves a dispute over a contract related to the sale of a business. Ashland Global Holdings, Inc. (Ashland) sold a business to SuperAsh Remainderman Ltd. Partnership (SuperAsh). As part of...
Appellate Court Upholds Ruling Against State Water Project Agreement, Citing Inadequate Environmental Review
This case involves a series of coordinated legal challenges to the California Department of Water Resources' (DWR) approval of the Monterey Plus Agreement and related environmental impact reports (EIR...
NMFS crab fishery plan approval reversed for inadequate environmental review
This case concerns a dispute over the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) decision to approve a revised management plan for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands crab fisheries. The State of Alas...
Baltimore's Climate Change Lawsuit Against Oil Companies Sent Back to State Court
This case involves a lawsuit filed by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore against several major oil and gas companies. Baltimore alleges that these companies engaged in a long-running campaign to ...
Court Upholds DEP Order for Dock Removal Due to Encroachment on Tidelands
This case involves a dispute over a tidelands license held by P.T. Jibsail Family Limited Partnership (Jibsail) for a dock on the Barnegat Bay. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (D...
Seventh Circuit Affirms Insurer Not Liable for Sterigenics' Environmental Cleanup Costs
This case involves a dispute between Sterigenics U.S., LLC and its insurer, National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburg, over insurance coverage for environmental liabilities. Sterigenics sough...
Ninth Circuit Upholds Arizona Snowbowl Expansion, Finding No Substantial Burden on Native American Religious Freedom Under RFRA
This case involves a dispute between the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the United States Forest Service regarding the proposed expansion of the Arizona Snowbowl ski area on the San Francisco Peaks. The ...
Court Upholds EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard Rule, Rejecting Clean Fuels Alliance America's Challenge
The case involves Clean Fuels Alliance America challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) denial of its petition to reconsider the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program's 2023-2025 rule. ...
Louisiana Appeals Court Affirms Lower Court Ruling in Favor of St. James Parish Against Environmental Groups and Residents
This case involves a legal challenge brought by Beverly Alexander, Rise St. James, Inclusive Louisiana, and Mount Triumph Baptist Church against St. James Parish. The plaintiffs are appealing a decisi...
Nevada Supreme Court Affirms State Engineer's Denial of Water Rights Transfer for Egger Enterprises
This case involves a dispute over water rights in Nevada, specifically concerning the transfer of water rights from one location to another. EGGER ENTER., LLC (Egger) sought to transfer water rights, ...
Court Rejects BLM's Wild Horse Management Plan for Insufficient Environmental Review
This case involves a lawsuit filed by Friends of Animals, an animal advocacy group, against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The group challenged the BLM's decision to approve a plan for mana...
Court Reverses Hazardous Waste Incinerator Permit, Citing Inadequate Environmental Review
The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) sued the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) over a permit issued to a company for a hazardous waste incinerator....
Appeals court revives lawsuit challenging demolition of historic hospital
The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) sued the City of North Charleston, South Carolina, arguing that the city's demolition of the historic Charleston Naval Hospital was illegal. NTHP cl...
Texas Margin Tax Not Applicable to Out-of-State Services
In Re Schindler Elevator Corporation v. the State of Texas, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 14, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. This case concerns whether the State of Texas co...
PA Supreme Court Upholds DEP's Denial of Landfill Permit
Bowfin v. DEP, Aplts., decided by Pennsylvania Supreme Court on January 6, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed the Commonwealth Court's decision, holding...
PA Commonwealth Court Upholds LRB Refusal to Publish DEP Regulation
DEP Aplt v. PA Legislative Ref. Bureau, decided by Pennsylvania Supreme Court on January 6, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) app...
PA Commonwealth Court Invalidates DEP Hazardous Waste Regulation
DEP Aplt v. PA Legislative Reference Bureau, decided by Pennsylvania Supreme Court on January 6, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP...
LRB not required to codify DEP regulations lacking legislative enactment
DEP v. PA Legislative Reference Bureau, decided by Pennsylvania Supreme Court on January 6, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sou...
Court Dismisses East Palestine Derailment Lawsuit Against Norfolk Southern
E. Palestine Train Derailment, decided by Sixth Circuit on November 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of claims against Norfolk So...
NC DEQ regulations for CAFOs deemed invalid for exceeding statutory authority
N.C. Dep't of Env't Quality v. N.C. Farm Bureau Fed'n, Inc., decided by North Carolina Supreme Court on October 17, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The North Carolina Department of Environm...
Second Circuit: Climate Change Lawsuits Belong in Federal Court
The City of New York v. Exxon Mobil Corp., decided by Second Circuit on October 3, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns whether the City of New York can sue major oil companie...
Court Affirms Dismissal of Environmental Claims Against Buddhist Retreat Center
Mid-New York Environ. v. Dragon Springs, decided by Second Circuit on September 16, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of claims brou...
Pollution Exclusion Clause Bars Coverage for Environmental Cleanup Costs
United States Fire Insurance Company v. Peterson's Oil Service, Inc., decided by First Circuit on September 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether Peterson'...
Pollution exclusion clause bars insurance coverage for environmental contamination claims.
Federated Mutual Insurance Company v. Peterson's Oil Service, Inc., decided by First Circuit on September 8, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether Federated M...
Court Upholds PUC Approval of Environmental Settlement Between PG&E and Center for Biological Diversity
This case involves a dispute over whether the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) properly approved a settlement agreement between Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the Center for Biological D...