HARTWELL CORP. v. SUPERIOR COURT

Nos. A085477, A085488, A085501, A085482, A085495, A085502, A085486, A085496, A085761, A067736.

88 Cal.Rptr.2d 486 (1999)

HARTWELL CORPORATION et al., Petitioners, v. The SUPERIOR COURT of Ventura County, Respondent; Kristin Santamaria et al., Real Parties in Interest. And eight other cases.

Court of Appeals of California, First District, Division Five.

As Modified on Denial of Rehearing September 29, 1999.

Review Granted December 15, 1999.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Carroll, Burdick & McDonough, N. Kathleen Strickland, Donald T. Ramsey, San Francisco, Jack T. Friedman, Walnut Creek, and Elizabeth L. Zepeda, for The Hartwell Corporation and Oil and Solvent Process Co.

Beveridge & Diamond and James Meeder, Janet Loduca, San Francisco, for Mobil Corporation, Lockheed-Martin Corporation and The Valspar Corporation.

Law Offices of David C. Solinger, and David C. Solinger, Covina, Resolution Law Group, Philip C. Hunsucker, Andrea J. Greenberg, Lafayette, for Whico Machine, Inc.

Gallagher & Gallaher and Thomas Sites and Martin Refkin, Los Angeles, for Oil and Solvent Process Co.

Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack and Walter John Lack, Gary Allan Praglin, Joy L. Robertson and Michele Hitt, Thomas V. Girardi, Girardi & Keese, Los Angeles, Mark Steven Algorri, DeWitt, Algorri & Algorri, Pasadena, for Christine Boswell et al., Loretta Celi et al. and Jeff Adler et al.

McKenna & Cuneo and Joseph F. Butler, Los Angeles, for Covina Irrigating Company and California Domestic Water Company.

Lagerlof, Senecal, Bradley & Swift and Andrew Douglas Turner, Pasadena, for California Domestic Water Company.

Lemieux & O'Neill and Keith Lemieux, Steven P. O'Neill, Westlake Village, for San Gabriel County Water District and Valley County Water District.

Proskauer Rose and Aaron P. Allan, Barry C. Groveman, Gregory J. Patterson, Los Angeles, Timothy J. Ryan, General Counsel, El Monte, Chapin, Fleming, McNitt, Shea & Carter and Steven J. Renshaw, for San Gabriel Valley Water Company.

Haight, Brown & Bonesteel and Gary C. Ottoson, Rita Gunasekaran, Santa Monica, Bacalski, Byrne & Koska and William K. Koska, San Diego, Hatch & Parent, Steven Amerikaner, Scott S. Slater, Santa Barbara, Southern California Water Company.

Daniels, Baratta & Fine and Mary Hulett, Mark A. Vega, Los Angeles, for Surburban Water Systems and Southwest Water Company, Inc.

Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May and Randall D. Morrison, Joan M. Haratani, Oakland, for Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

Shapiro, Mitchell & Dupont and Norman A. Dupont, for Reichhold Chemicals, Inc.

No appearance for Respondent Superior Courts.

McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen and John R. Reese, Barry P. Goode, Jill F. Cooper, Eric F. Pierson and Lonnie Finkel, Los Angeles, for Wynn Oil Co.

Christensen, Miller, Fink, Jacobs, Glaser, Weil & Shapiro and Patricia L. Glaser, David A. Giannotti, Jan Jensen, Los Angeles, for Huffy Corporation.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and Jeffrey N. Brown, Wendy K. Kilbride, Los Angeles, for Avery Dennison Corporation.

Munger Tolles & Olson and Peter R. Taft, Los Angeles, for Aerojet General Corporation.

Belcher, Henzie & Biegenzahn and E.Lee Horton, John S. Curtis, Scott J. Leipzig, Los Angeles, Steefel, Levitt & Weiss, Lenard G. Weiss and Mark Fogelman, San Francisco, Jan S. Driscoll, San Diego, for California-American Water Co.

Barry I. Goldman, Dennis J. Sherwin, David A. Rosen, Christopher P. Ridout, Arlyn M. Latin, Rose, Klein & Marias, Los Angeles, for Kristin Santamaria et al.

Horvitz & Levy, Frederic D. Cohen and Davis S. Ettinger, Encino, Counsel for amicus curiae California Water Association.


JONES, P.J.

These eight writ petitions and one appeal, consolidated for decision, raise questions about the relationship between court actions and California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) proceedings. The primary question is whether the PUC's jurisdiction over public utilities providing water to customers in the San Gabriel Valley preempts damage actions by valley residents for injury to persons and property allegedly caused by harmful chemicals in the water....

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