Unocal Corp. v. United States
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Breyer, J.
This case concerns the cause and aftermath of a 1995 crude oil pipeline spill in Norwalk, California. The spill, which discharged over 45,000 gallons of crude oil, occurred on February 20, 1995 during the construction of the Norwalk-Santa Fe Me-trolink railway station. At least 50 gallons of oil escaped through a nearby storm drain and contaminated a local creek and river. The total cost of cleanup was over $4 million.
In the wake of the spill, Union Oil Co. of California (“Unocal”), the owner of the ruptured pipeline, filed suit against Southern California Regional Rail Authority, dba Metrolink (“Metrolink”), for reimbursement of the cleanup costs. After a two-week trial, a jury returned a verdict in favor of Unocal based on negligence, breach of contract and quasi-contract theories, and pursuant to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA”), 33 U.S.C. § 2701 , et seq. Metrolink now appeals, contesting the validity of both the jury’s verdict and the district court’s special verdict form. Unocal has filed a cross-appeal protesting the district court’s award of pre-judgment interest, its refusal to award attorney’s fees, and its refusal to issue a declaratory judgment.