A recent ruling in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California granted a motion to dismiss a case involving soil and groundwater contamination allegedly resulting from the release of hazardous substances at a property once occupied by a metal plating facility.

The case, filed by the city of West Sacramento and the State of California, accused defendants R & L Business Management and Richard Leland and Sharon Leland of violating the Gatto Act, which provides California cities and agencies authority to force the cleanup of contaminated property. 

Kutak Rock partner Jad Davis recently discussed the case with Northern California Record, including reasons why U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb granted a motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim based on the Gatto Act and how this case sets any precedent in future environmental law