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2007 Problem Q&A
Q:
For the fourth issue presented (whether the harm to the
plaintiffs is "sufficiently concrete" to prove standing),
are you asking us to limit our analysis to the injury prong of
standing, or are you asking us to address whether the plaintiffs have
standing, particularly in light of their unusual injuries?
A:
Regarding your question, the court directive is clear.
Answer the question however you best see fit.
Q:
I understand that we can choose which side to represent in our brief,
and I want to clarify the party choices. Are the options as follows?
(1)
Province of Inuksuk, (2) Village of Akuli, (3) Genergy Corp., Atomic
Energy, Inc., Centennial Power Co., Power Suppliers Co., and First
Energy, Ltd. & (4) Stephen Johnson, Administrator, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
A: There are three sides: 1) the village & province, 2)
EPA and 3) industry.
Q:
We have one question regarding the problem.
On page 1 of the problem, it says that the plaintiffs base
their suit on federal common law of nuisance or alternatively on New
Union's law of nuisance. Since the district court opinion
doesn't address the state law claims, are we to assume that those were
dismissed along with the federal claim? Or did the defendants not
move for summary judgment on that claim?
A:
If you are suggesting that there were pendant state claims, that is
not in the fact pattern.
Q:
Question number 2 asks whether it is appropriate to apply the Landers
rule under either the federal or state law. The state adopted the
third restatement and the third restatement of torts for the
indivisible harm of independent tortfeasors (REST 3d TORTS-AL s 17)
refers back to the local law of the jurisdiction. Are we to assume
that the state will apply some other law (this seems rather circular)?
Also, if there is a local state law then it must be applied because a
federal court in diversity must apply the law of the state in which it
sits. So are we just trying to look at the Landers Rule in general,
because based on
Erie
the court would have to apply the state common law for the public
nuisance claim.
A:
You should deal with the law and the facts as any litigant would.
Q:
The titles of the case in question 1 [Illinois v. Milwaukee] doesn't
match the citation [451 US 304 (1981)]. Is the problem referring
to the citation or the case name?
A: The case is Milwaukee v. Illinois, 451 U.S. 304
(1981). The parties were reversed.
Q:
The decision from the district court held that the plaintiffs' harm
was too speculative under the public nuisance law of the State of
New Union
which follows the Restatement (3d) of Torts: Apportionment of
Liability. There was no citation to a section in the problem and
the Apportionment of Liability in the Third Restatement does not have
specific section devoted to public nuisance. Is the problem
referring to section 26 (Apportionment of Liability When Damages Can
be Divided by Causation)?
A:
Regarding the Restatement, the state follows the appropriate
provisions of Restatement 3d.
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Q:
The order of the District Court states that "the public nuisance
law of New Union ... follows the Restatement of the Law Third, Torts:
Apportionment of Liability." Should we assume that, other
than apportionment of liability, the public nuisance law of New Union
follows the Restatement (Second) of Torts?
A:
The opinion is silent on the nuisance law of New Union, other than
whatever is covered in Restatement Third: Apportionment.
Q1:
On the issue of concreteness for standing, is concreteness the only
aspect of standing that we are supposed to address, or are we supposed
to address all of the standing arguments that may tie into
concreteness indirectly (those which are argued by EPA and
private power companies in the trial court opinion)?
Q2: In
briefing issue number four, is the concreteness of plaintiffs'
standing under the injury-in-fact requirement the only element of
standing we are to address?
A:
The Court has asked whether the harm is concrete. Litigants can
make whatever arguments they deem appropriate in that regard.
Q:
If we were to write our brief as the EPA, on the issues that are about
the claims against the defendant power companies, do we take a
position that is similar to that of an intervenor? For example, issues
1-3 deal with the nuisance claim against the power companies, and
although the EPA is not defending those claims, the EPA still argues a
position based on what it believes to be the correct law. Is that
correct?
A:
The record indicates the positions each of the parties have taken on
the issues.
Q:
On issue 5, since the question of whether greenhouse gases are air
pollutants under the Clean Air Act is not being argued, is it correct
to assume that EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions
(under section 115) is also not being argued in this problem?
A:
No.
Q1:
Is it acceptable to use scientific evidence outside what has been
provided in the record? (For example, as representatives of the
companies, are we allowed to refute certain conclusions about global
warming based on scientific studies mentioned in law review articles
or other secondary resources?)
Q2: Is there any
evidence in the record about global climate patterns and the
likelihood that the CO2 in the atmosphere over New Union more directly
causes harm to plaintiffs than CO 2 emissions from anywhere else on
the continent or globe?
A:
The facts of this particular case are those found by the court below
and reflected in the record. However in making arguments
litigants may undertake whatever research they think appropriate and
rely on authorities such as books, treatises, articles and other
sources of information to support those arguments.
Q:
The problem refers to the "Arctic Climate Impact Assessment"
by the International Climate Change Research Panel. Is this
Assessment meant to be hypothetical or is it referring to the real
Assessment done by the Arctic Council and the International Arctic
Science Committee?
A:
The ICCRP is a fictitious organization, which issued a fictitious
report.
Q:
We understand that no case law from after September 1, 2006 can be
used, but can we cite relevant literature published after September 1,
2006, such as the recent U.K. Stern Report on the economics of climate
change?
A:
The problem only restricts the use of case law after September 1.
Q:
Do we need to address general administrative law issues, such as the
standard of review, even though these are not explicitly stated as
issues to be briefed in the problem?
A:
These are not issues that the court directed be addressed, but if you
feel it is necessary to address them for your arguments that is your
decision.
Q:
What is the expectation for use of cases that are not mentioned in the
problem? Is there a minimum or maximum amount of case law
expected to be included in addressing the briefing question?
A:
There are no expectations in this regard.
Q:
In briefing issue number three, are we to assume that the
precautionary principle is customary international law?
A:
We cannot help you on this.
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