ELR Citation: ELR 21242
No(s). 89-55500 (9th Cir. Aug 10, 1990)

The court reverses a district court's imposition of sanctions under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure against an attorney representing California in a case under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The district court imposed the sanctions for failure to cite a CERCLA case and certain CERCLA provisions. Rule 11 sanctions must be imposed if an attorney fails to cite relevant authority and the omitted authority would render the attorney's argument frivolous. The attorney's argument that a liable party seeking contribution may proceed only under CERCLA when the second party is also liable or potentially liable is not rendered frivolous by the omitted case law and statutory provisions.

[Previous decisions in this litigation are published at 14 ELR 20381, 20799, 20385, and 20388, 15 ELR 20402, 16 ELR 20458, 17 ELR 20559 and 21134, and 20 ELR 20656.]

Counsel for Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant/Appellant
Marcelle E. Mihaila, Kenneth S. Klein
Gray, Cary, Ames & Frye
1700 First Interstate Plaza, 401 B St., San Diego CA 92101
(619) 699-2700

Counsel for Defendants/Counter-Claimants/Appellees
Robert P. Dahlquist, Richard W. Raushenbush
Latham & Watkins
701 B St., Ste. 2100, San Diego CA 92101-8197
(619) 236-1234

Before Browning, Pregerson, and Copple,^* JJ.