MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) – A university claims it has spent millions in environmental response costs for a property it owns that was formerly owned by the government for use in World War II.
Regents of the University of Minnesota filed a complaint on Aug. 11 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota against United States of America and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. citing the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 and the Minnesota Environmental Response and Liability Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff owns 8,000 acres of land in Rosemount, Minnesota, that was the site of the government-owned and DuPont-operated Gopher Ordnance Works in World War II. The suit states the government deeded the property to the plaintiff in 1946. The suit states the plaintiff incurred costs in excess of $3 million with the investigation and response costs in relation to the release or threatened release of hazardous substances.
The plaintiff holds United States of America and E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Co. responsible because the defendants design, construction, and/or decommission of the site resulted in the release or threatened release of hazardous substances.
The plaintiff seeks monetary judgment, interest, all legal fees, and any other relief as the court deems just. It is represented by Rick E. Kubler and Richard C. Landon of Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty & Bennett PA in Minneapolis.
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota case number 0:17-cv-03690-DSD-KMM