Divisibility Under CERCLA
Although not expressly required under the statute, applied joint and several liability has usually been applied by courts when the government pursues cleanup against polluters under CERCLA. A party seeking to avoid joint and several liability has the burden of proving not only that divisibility of harm is possible amongst potentially responsible parties, but that a reasonable basis for such divisibility exists. Case law from federal district courts, circuit courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court makes it clear that satisfying this burden requires a very case-specific and fact intensive inquiry. Early planning and a focused strategy for how to frame the facts and theory of the case can make the difference in determining whether divisibility is both possible and reasonable.